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MEMOIRS 


Joseph  W.  Pickett, 

Missionary  Superintendent  in  Southern  Iowa  and  in  the  Rocky 
Mountains  for  the  American  Home  Missionary  Society. 


By  WILLIAM    SALTER. 


So  close  is  glory  to  our  dust, 

So  near  is  God  to  man, 
When  Duty  whispers  low.  Thou  must, 

The  youth  replies,  I  can. 

^Emerson. 


BURLINGTON,  IOWA:    JAMES  LOVE. 
COLORADO    SPRINGS,  COLORADO:    MRS.  S.  B.  PICKETT. 

1880. 


For  sale  by  the  Congregational  Publishing  Society,  Boston,  Mass. 


COPYRIGHT, 
BY   WILLIAM   SALTER, 


Printed  by  Geo.  H.  Ellis,  lOi  Milk  Street,  Boston. 


P<^:^ss 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

EARLY  LIFE,   ANCESTRY,   EDUCATION. 

Page 

Birth — Parents  —  New  England  Ancestry  —  Andover,  Ohio,      .     .  9 
Childhood  —  Love  of  Nature — At  Kingsville  Academy  and  Alle- 
ghany College, 13 

Farm-work  —  Religious  Experience, 14 

Teacher  in  Tennessee  —  Tour  in  East  Tennessee  and  No.  Carolina,  15 
Ascent    of    Mount    Mitchell  —  At    Yale    College    and    Andover 

Seminary, 16 

CHAPTER  11. 

MINISTRY  AT  WENTWORTH,  N.H.,   AND   MOUNT   PLEASANT,    IOWA. 

Ordination  —  Marriage  —  Happy  Ministry — Other  Fields  calling,  .  20 

Visit  West  —  Ministry  at  Mount  Pleasant, 22 

Among  Sick  and  Wounded  Soldiers — In  Tennessee, 24 

At  Stevenson,  Alabama  —  At  Chattanooga, 26 

Before  Atlanta  —  At  Marietta,  Georgia  —  Ascent  of  Kenesaw,   .     .  32 

Death  of  Wife  —  Call  to  Missionary  Superintendence, 34 

CHAPTER  III. 

SUPERINTENDENT  OF  HOME  MISSIONS  IN   SOUTHERN   IOWA. 

Work  of  the  Home  Missionary  Society  in  Iowa, 35 

South-western  Iowa  —  Work  in  New  Towns, 36 

Character  and  Success  of  his  Labors, 37 

His  Paper,  Church  Work, 42 


M545683 


6  Contents. 

Five  Letters  to  the  Children  of  Iowa :  — 

I.     Have  a  Plan  in  Life, 42 

II.     Habits, 44 

III.  Every    Child    to    do    his    Duty — Mind,    Morals,    and 

Religion  to  be  Cultivated, 46 

IV.  Prayer-Triangles  —  Life  a  Copy-book, 49 

V.    Goodness, 51 

The  Past,  Present,  and  Future  of  Iowa, 52 

Weakness  in  Churches, 54 

Provide  Things  Honest, 55 

Denominational  Comity, 56 

Congregational  Order  adapted  to  unite  New  Communities,    ...  57 

Congregational  Order  and  Sectarianism, 59 

To  his  Mother,  on  his  Forty-fourth  Birthday, 60 

A  Church  Enlarged, 61 

The  Importance  of  Systematic  Giving :  — 

Demands  for  Increasing  Liberality,    .' 63 

Limits  of  Ability  to  Give, 64 

The  only  Adequate  Motive,  . 65 

A  Law  Older  than  Moses, 66 

A  Definite  Portion — Objections  —  Advantages, 67 

Importance  of  a  High  Ideal  to  Churches  and  Ministers,     ....  69 

A  Night  Ride, ; 70 

Temperance  Revival, 71 

Importance  of  the  Thorough  Christianization  of  the  United  States,  72 
Missionary  Exploration  of  Colorado  in  1874:  — 

History  and  Resources  of  Colorado, 74 

Religious  Condition  of  Colorado, 76 

His  Love  for  Iowa, 80 

Appointment  to  Colorado  in  1878, 81 

Marriage  —  Farewell  to  Iowa  Brethren, 82 

His  Life  at  Des  Moines,  by  Rev.  A.  L.  Frisbie, 83 

CHAPTER  IV. 

SUPERINTENDENT    AND    GENERAL    MISSIONARY   IN    THE    ROCKY    MOUN- 
TAINS. 

A  Sabbath  in  South  Pueblo, 87 

San  Luis  Park, 89 


Contents.  7 

In  the  Snow  in  June, 90 

Pagosa  Springs, 92 

Among  the  Mountaineers, 93 

Silverton  —  A  Gambler's  Funeral, 96 

Anvil  and  Hazelton  Mountains, 97 

Gamblers'  Contribution  to  a  Sunday-school  Library, 98 

Importance  of  Christian  Union, 99 

The  Black  Hills, 100 

Among  Robbers, loi 

Sixty-six  Hours  of  Staging  —  Lead  City, 103 

Deadwood — Spearfish — Plan  of  an  Academy, 106 

A  Gold  Brick  — Galena  — Crook  City, 108 

Rapid  City  —  Rockerville, 109 

Mid-winter  Labors, 112 

The  Week  of  Prayer  at  Lead  City,       113 

A  Winter  Walk, 114 

Permanent  Pastors  Needed, 115 

Beauty  of  the  Black  Hills, 115 

To  his  Mother,  on  his  Forty-seventh  Birthday, 116 

Over  Hills  and  Ravines, 117 

An  Eshcol  Bunch  of  Churches, 118 

Emigration  to  Western  Colorado, 119 

Barbarism  the  First  Danger, 120 

Southern  Colorado  —  Coal  Creek — Rosita  —  Silver  Cliff,      .     .     .  121 

Denver  —  The  Plains  in  Spring  —  The  Midnight  Heavens,     .     .     .  122 

From  Denver  to  Leadville, 124 

Carbonateville  —  Kokomo, 126 

A  Journey  to  Hartford,  Conn., 127 

Building  a  Church  at  Leadville, 128 

The  Gunnison  River  Country, 129 

Crested  Butte  —  Hillerton, 129 

Lumber  and  Shingles  for  the  Leadville  Church, 131 

Last  Visit  to  the  Black  Hills, 131 

Rockerville  —  Deadwood  —  Custer, 132 

Another  Week  of  Labor  at  Leadville, 133 

Rest  at  Home  —  The  Colorado  Association, 133 

"  Off  for  Leadville  "  —  In  Denver, 135 

A  Mountain  Storm, 136 

Overturning  of  Stage  —  Death, 138 


8      -  Contents. 

Funeral  Services  at  Leadville  and  Colorado  Springs :  — 

Address  of  Rev.  R.  T.  Cross, 139 

Tributes  to  his  Memory :  — 

J.  Teesdale  —  E.  Van  Cise, 143 

C.  C.  Salter  —  J.  Adams, 144 

C.M.Sanders  —  The  "  Home  Missionary," 145 

Lines  suggested  by  his  Death,  by  J.  W.  Phillips, 145 

His  Character  and  Life-work, 147 


MEMOIRS 

OF 

JOSEPH    W.    PICKETT 


CHAPTER   I. 

EARLY  LIFE,  ANCESTRY,  EDUCATION. 

JOSEPH  WORTHY  PICKETT  was  born  at  Andover, 
Ashtabula  County,  Ohio,  January  28,  1832.  His 
ancestors  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  New 
England,  who  left  the  mother  country  in  the  Puritan 
emigration  of  the  reign  of  Charles  I.  He  was  of  the 
sixth  generation  from  John  Pickett,  who  came  from 
the  County  of  Kent,  England ;  settled  in  Salem,  Conn., 
1648;  moved  to  Stratford,  1660,  and  died  April  11, 
1684.     The  following  is  the  line  of  descent :  — 

1.  Daniel,  165 2-1 688. 

2.  Samuel,  1682-1761. 

3.  John,  1716  —  February,  1807;  married  Elizabeth 
Meeker ;  moved  to  Sandisfield,  Berkshire  County, 
Mass. 

4.  John,  June,  1753  —  October,  1840;  married  Ruth 
Boardman,  1759 — March  25,  1806,  of  Middletown, 
Conn.  He  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution ;  repre- 
sentative from  Sandisfield  in  the  Massachusetts  Con- 


lo  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

vention  of  1788,  which  ratified  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States ;  and  in  the  House  of  Representatives  of 
Massachusetts  from  1789  to  1796,  and  from  1804  to 
1813  ;  also  a  justice  of  peace  for  many  years  in  the 
same  town ;  and  moved  to  the  unbroken  forest  of 
North-eastern  Ohio  in  18 19,  with  his  three  sons,  John, 
Joseph,  and 

5.  Benjamin,  July  22,  1795  — April  26,  1873  ;  married 
Lydia  Ophelia  Birchard,  of  Crawford  County,  Penn., 
January  8,  1822. 

6.  Joseph  W. 

His  mother  is  a  native  of  Becket,  Berkshire  County, 
Mass.,  and  of  the  sixth  generation  from  Thomas  Bir- 
chard, who  was  born  at  Roxbury,  England,  in  1595  ; 
came  from  England  in  the  ship  ''True  Love,"  1635; 
was  made  a  freeman  of  Boston,  1637;  settled  at  Say- 
brook,  Conn.,  and  died  1684.  This  is  her  line  of 
descent :  — 

1.  John,  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  Norwich, 
Conn. 

2.  James,  1665-1745. 

3.  James,  1699-1786;  moved,  1755,  to  Becket. 

4.  James,  1 731-1820;  one  of  the  first  selectmen,  and 
the  first  treasurer  of  Becket.     His  only  son  was 

5.  James. 

In  the  autumn  of  18 12,  he  started  with  his  family,  the 
oldest  child  eighteen,  the  youngest  two  years  of  age, 
for  the  ''Far  West."  They  carried  their  household 
goods,  provisions,  and  bedding  in  one  heavy  wagon, 
drawn  by  two   yoke  of   oxen  and  a  horse.     Another 


His  Parents.  II 

wagon,  drawn  by  three  horses,  took  lighter  articles  and 
the  family.  Many  were  the  mishaps  and  hardships  of 
the  wilderness.  Now  and  then  the  wagons  were  upset 
or  stuck  in  the  mud.  Several  nights  were  spent  with 
no  shelter  but  the  woods.  For  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles,  they  passed  down  the  Alleghany  River  in  flat- 
boats.  After  six  weeks'  weary  travel,  they  reached  the 
tract  that  had  been  selected  for  their  home,  seven  miles 
north  of  Meadville,  Penn.  Here,  coming  some  years 
afterward  as  a  teacher  into  an  adjoining  school  district, 
Benjamin  Pickett  found  his  wife. 

6.  Lydia,  born  November  29,  1802. 

Andover  was  then  a  township  in  the  woods,  five 
miles  square.  No  roads  had  been  made  on  its  eastern 
side,  where  Benjamin  Pickett  had  located.  The  only 
guides  in  going  from  place  to  place  were  blazed  trees. 
The  new  home  was  a  log  structure,  without  window  or 
chimney,  the  apertures  between  the  unchinked  logs 
furnishing  light,  and  an  opening  in  the  roof  carrying 
off  the  smoke.  Thus  they  lived  for  the  first  year. 
Most  of  the  neighbors  were  newly  married  people,  and 
similarly  situated.  As  busy  years  rolled  on,  the  land 
was  cleared  for  pasture  and  tillage,  additions  and 
improvements  were  made  to  the  cabin,  and  support 
and  comfort  secured  for  the  growing  family.  Here 
the  subject  of  this  memoir  was  born,  the  fifth  of  eight 
children. 

He  early  showed  conscientiousness,  truthfulness,  and 
a  love  of  knowledge.  Before  he  was  three  years  old, 
he  would  place  two  chairs  facing  each  other,  and  coax 


12  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

his  elder  brother  to  read  to  him.  At  .five,  he  was  a 
good  reader.  Warm  in  filial  feeling,  he  loved  to  help 
his  mother  on  washing  days,  gathering  wood  for  her 
fire  by  the  brook,  and  sharing  her  simple  lunch  in  the 
shade.  As  he  grew  in  strength,  he  assisted  his  father 
in  the  heavy  labors  of  the  farm.  These  were  the  happy 
memories  of  his  childhood. 

When  seven  years  old,  his  father  gave  him  a  pocket- 
knife,  greatly  to  his  delight.  The  need  of  a  new  house 
was  at  that  time  the  household  talk.  The  children's 
hearts  were  set  upon  it.  But  the  careful  father,  scan- 
ning the  cost  and  his  resources  in  the  presence  of  the 
family,  decided  that  he  could  not  afford  to  build.  This 
filled  Joseph  with  sorrow.  With  tears  in  his  eyes,  he 
went  into  the  forest  to  weep  and  think  by  himself.  As 
he  reflected  that  his  father  could  not  build  for  want  of 
means,  he  remembered  that  his  new  knife  had  cost 
something,  and  he  at  once  resolved  what  to  do.  He 
returned  to  the  cabin,  handed  the  treasure  to  his  father, 
and  said  :  "  Here  is  my  knife,  father.  Take  it  back  to 
the  store,  and  get  the  money.  I  can  do  without  it." 
The  father's  heart  was  touched  to  tears,  and  he  said, 
"Joseph,  keep  your  knife,  and  we  will  build  the  new 
house."  The  willing  self-sacrifice  of  the  boy  had 
kindled  new  energy  in  the  man.  Tl;ere  was  no  more 
faltering  until  the  family  moved  into  a  new  house,  one 
of  the  best  appointed  dwellings  in  the  township.  It 
stands  upon  a  hill,  close  to  a  charming  piece  of  woods 
of  fifty  acres.  Hon.  Ben.  Wade,  visiting  here  when 
the  orchard  was  in  full  bloom,  called  it  one  of  the 
pleasantest  places  he  ever  saw. 


At  School  and  College.  13 

The  charm  and  beauty  of  nature  won  the  boy's  heart. 
He  remembered  through  life  the  impressions  which 
flowers  and  woods  and  the  south  wind  made  upon  him 
when  five  years  of  age.  In  after  years,  Ruskin  was  one 
of  his  favorite  authors. 

He  attended  school  a  portion  of  each  year  in  a  log 
school-house  three-quarters  of  a  mile  distant,  until  he 
was  sixteen,  when  he  entered  the  academy  in  Kings- 
ville,  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  for  the  fall  term.  At 
nineteen,  he  entered  Alleghany  College,  at  Meadville, 
Penn.  Obliged  to  practise  close  economy,  he  rented 
a  room,  obtained  provisions  from  home,  did  his  own 
cooking,  and  frequently  managed  to  live  upon  fifty 
cents  a  week.  In  the  Junior  year,  he  took  the  Hasel- 
tine  Prize  Medal  for  the  best  English  composition.  He 
graduated  in  1855.  His  theme  at  Commencement  was 
"Plato  and  his  Philosophy."  While  in  the  academy 
and  at  college,  he  taught  school  duriiig  the  winter 
months.  Showing  a  superior  faculty  for  instruction, 
he  won  the  hearts  of  scholars,  and  gained  honor  and 
esteem  in  every  community  where  he  was  employed. 
He  thus  obtained  means  to  defray  the  expenses  of  his 
own  education. 

From  early  youth,  he  took  part  in  literary  and  debat- 
ing societies,  and  won  repute  as  a  ready  speaker  and 
an  ingenious  and  able  disputant.  In  the  political  can- 
vass of  1848,  he  listened  to  the  humor  and  eloquence 
of  Thomas  Corwin  and  to  the  strong  and  persuasive 
arguments  of  Joshua  R.  Giddings. 

The  heavy  work  upon  the  farm  was  haying.     At  that 


14  Me^noirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

season,  Joseph  always  arranged  to  be  at  home,  and,  with 
his  scythe  and  rake  and  pitchfork,  and  cheering  laugh 
and  persistent  pluck,  made  "  the  best  of  hands,"  as  his 
father  called  him. 

He  cherished  through  life  the  memory  of  an  interest 
in  religion  when  eight  years  of  age.  His  father  gath- 
ered the  children  around  the  family  altar.  His  mother's 
devotional  nature  gave  him  a  constant  nurture  of  grace 
and  goodness.  At  eighteen,  when  a  student  at  Kings- 
ville  Academy,  a  brother's  sudden  death  deepened  his 
serious  convictions.  During  his  first  year  in  college, 
in  a  time  of  awakening,  he  sought  the  Lord  through 
weeks  of  fasting  and  prayer,  with  strong  crying  and 
tears.  The  hills  of  Meadville  were  witness  to  his  spir- 
itual struggles.  When  it  pleased  God  to  reveal  his  Son 
in  him,  and  he  saw  the  divine  love  in  Jesus  Christ,  he 
acted  with  prompt  decision,  and  on  the  following  Sat- 
urday walked  home,  twenty-four  miles,  to  unite  with  the 
church  of  his  fathers  at  the  communion  on  the  next 
day.  An  extract  from  his  diary  of  this  period  shows 
his  fervor  and  devotion  :  — 

After  the  five  o'clock  prayer-meeting  this  morning,  Merrill  and 
I  proceeded  to  the  forests,  where  for  two  hours  we  supplicated  at 
the  throne  of  grace,  and  received  largely  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  I 
was  enabled  through  faith  to  behold  Christ's  kingdom,  and  saw 
the  ancient  prophets  worshipping  around  the  throne.  Oh,  the 
holy  joy  of  beheving  !  I  desire  to  give  up  my  body  as  the  temple 
of  the  Holy  Spirit.  May  God  ever  guide  me  in  the  strait  and 
narrow  path  ! 

Many  years  later,  he  said  of  his  habits  of  retirement 
for  meditation  and  prayer  :  — 

I  used  to  walk  miles  every  day,  going  to  some  quiet  retreat, 


Teaches  in  Academy.  15 

where  I  walked  backward  and  forward,  talking  aloud  to  God, 
sometimes  repeating  portions  of  Scripture.  I  have  worn  paths 
in  the  deep  woods  so  hard  that  the  grass  would  not  grow  for 
months.  Then  I  would  kneel  in  prayer.  I  shall  never  forget 
those  seasons.  They  sweetened  my  life,  took  out  selfishness  and 
passion,  and  put  in  sweetness  and  love,  and  a  longing  desire  to  do 
others  good. 

Before  leaving  college,  he  had  made  an  engagement 
to  take  charge  of  an  academy  at  Taylorsville,  Wilson 
County,  Tenn.,  but  after  reaching  home  was  prostrated 
with  typhoid  fever,  and  brought  very  low.  Upon 
convalescence,  he  was  urged  to  delay.  But,  feeling 
that  strength  would  come  as  he  went  on  his  way,  he 
left  home  the  last  of  August.  It  was  his  first  long- 
journey,  and  his  first  travel  by  railroad.  His  health 
improved  every  day.  From  Louisville,  he  went  by 
stage  to  his  destination,  thirty-seven  miles  east  of  Nash- 
ville. Here  was  his  work  for  two  years.  The  academy 
flourished  in  his  hands.  He  aroused  a  generous  ambi- 
tion among  the  students,  and  imparted  to  them  his 
moral  vigor  and  spiritual  force.  A  neighboring  hill 
of  shady  oaks  and  moss-covered  rocks  was  his  chosen 
resort  for  exercise  and  for  meditation  and  prayer. 

In  the  summ.er  vacation  of  1856,  he  travelled  into 
East  Tennessee  and  North  Carolina,  alone,  on  horse- 
back ;  making  observations  of  the  geology  of  those 
regions,  and  enjoying  the  wildness  and  grandeur  of  the 
scenery.  He  visited  Bon  Air  Springs,  Roane  County, 
and  passed  up  Clinch  River  to  Knoxville.  From  the 
Cumberland  Mountains,  he  wrote,  August  2d  : — 

I  stayed  Wednesday  night  at  a  tavern  kept  by  an  Ohio  man.  I 
told  him  it  was  the  last  thing  I  expected, —  to  see  a  man  leaving 


1 6  Memoirs  of  Joseph   W.  Pickett. 

Ohio  for  these  barren  mountains.  He  came  for  his  health,  he 
said.  There  are  good  reasons  for  its  being  healthy  upon  the 
mountains :  a  person  can  seldom  get  enough  to  eat  to  make  him 
sick.  I  felt  sorry  for  the  landlady.  She  could  get  along,  she  said, 
if  they  had  any  privileges ;  that  there  was  no  school,  and  only  now 
and  then  preaching,  Baptist  and  Methodist,  but  neither  of  the 
preachers  could  read.  Of  course,  there  are  exceptions  to  this 
gloomy  aspect  of  the  region.  Now  and  then  I  call  upon  a  wealthy, 
intelligent  farmer  who  is  a  perfect  gentleman.  The  political  fever 
runs  high.  It  will  be  a  tight  match  between  Fillmore  and  Bu- 
chanan.    I  know  little  of  Northern  politics. 

From  Knoxville,  he  went  to  Dandridge,  and  up 
French  Broad  River  to  the  Warm  Springs,  N.C.,  six 
miles  from  the  State  line,  a  fashionable  resort  for  the 
sons  and  daughters  of  fortune  from  the  South.  Riding 
on  through  Buncombe  County,  he  ascended  Mount 
Mitchell  August   14th,  and  from  its  top  wrote:  — 

My  highest  desire  is  realized  and  my  loftiest  aspiration  grati- 
fied, for  I  stand  upon  the  far-famed  mount,  the  loftiest  summit  of 
the  Blue  Ridge  and  highest  point  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
Having  put  on  a  thick  overcoat  which  belongs  to  one  of  the  men 
who  are  clearing  the  top  of  the  mountain,  I  have  ascended  the 
rude  observatory  made  of  balsam-trees,  and  am  gazing  upon  the 
scene.  Nothing  I  have  before  witnessed  will  bear  comparison 
with  it.  But  it  is  cold.  I  must  go  to  a  fire  the  workmen  have 
built  under  a  ledge  of  rock.  .  .  .  This  is  comfortable ;  and  I  must 
tell  you  of  my  adventures.  Yesterday,  it  rained  most  of  the  fore- 
noon ;  dark  clouds  hung  around  the  mountains.  At  dinner,  I  sav/ 
some  speckled  trout  the  boys  had  caught.  I  remembered  the 
stories  father  had  told  me,  and  determined  to  go  fishing.  The 
boys  got  bait.  We  went  up  the  mountain  about  two  miles  by  the 
side  of  a  dashing,  foaming  stream,  passing  high  laurel  and  ivy 
bushes  that  were  growing  in  luxuriance,  and  threw  in  our  hooks. 
I  watched  the  boy's  motion  until  I  saw  the  plan,  and  then  com- 


Mountain  Experiences.  17 

menced.  I  let  my  hook  float  along  the  stream,  when  up  came  a 
trout  and  snapped  it.  I  drew  him  out.  Leaping  along  the  rocks, 
I  let  my  hook  dance  into  the  deep  holes,  when  up  came  another 
fellow,  which  I  ousted.  It  was  the  greatest  sport  at  fishing  I  ever 
had.  I  caught  five,  the  boy  three.  He  said  it  was  the  first  time 
he  was  ever  beaten. 

This  morning,  about  seven,  with  a  son  of  my  host,  I  started  up 
the  mountain  on  foot.  We  travelled  on  and  on.  I  made  him  puff 
and  blow.  We  reached  here  between  one  and  two  o'clock  this 
afternoon,  after  ten  miles  of  "up-hill  business."  My  host  and 
several  hands  are  at  work  here,  building  a  sleeping-room.  I  am 
going  to  see  the  sun  and  moon  rise  and  set.  I  can  stand  it  to 
stay  under  the  rocks  without  cover,  if  these  mountaineers  can.  So 
good-night. 

Morning.,  Aligns t  15. —  I  slept  most  of  the  night  finely.  We 
had  a  large  fire  built,  which  we  were  obliged  to  replenish  often,  as 
the  fir-wood  is  poor  to  keep  fire.  My  thermometer  stood  at  45° 
this  morning.  The  sun  set  behind  a  cloud  last  night,  but  its 
rising  this  morning  was  glorious.  The  fog  resembles  vast  lakes, 
above  which  the  mountain  summits  rear  their  heads  like  islands. 

His  return  to  Middle  Tennessee  vv^as  by  another 
route,  through  Jackson,  Macon,  and  Cherokee  Coun- 
ties, N.C.,  and  Monroe  County,  Tenn.  Passing  over  the 
ancient  domain  of  the  Cherokee  Indians,  he  entered  a 
lonely  valley,  some  thirty  miles  wide,  with  the  ragged 
and  rocky  crags  of  the  Blue  Ridge  on  one  side  and 
the  Smoky  Mountains  on  the  other.  Overwhelmed  at 
times  by  the  towering,  precipitous  grandeur  of  the 
former,  he  found  a  fascination  and  charm  in  the  soft 
and  restful  splendor  of  the  latter.  It  was  long  an 
image  in  his  mind  of  ''the  valley  of  blessing."  On  one 
side  towered  the  holy  law;  on  the  other,  the  divine  love 
seemed  diffused  abroad. 


1 8  Memoirs  of  Joseph   W.  Pickett. 

On  the  fifteenth  of  September,  he  resumed  his  work 
at  the  academy,  with  an  increased  number  of  pupils  and 
his  brother  Cyrus  as  assistant.  He  closed  his  labors 
there  July  lo,  1857,  with  grateful  assurances  of  esteem 
from  his  pupils,  and  with  promises  of  a  prayerful  re- 
membrance of  them  on  his  part.  Five  of  his  pupils 
accompanied  him  home,  to  be  educated  at  Alleghany 
College.  Three  remained  North,  and  a  few  years  later 
joined  the  army  of  the  Union.  One  was  first  lieuten- 
ant of  a  college  company  raised  at  Meadville ;  assistant 
adjutant-general  at  the  battle  of  Dranesville,  December 
20,  1861  ;  fought  bravely  on  the  Peninsula  and  before 
Richmond,  and  died  from  exhaustion.  The  others 
raised  a  company  of  cavalry,  of  which  one  was  captain 
and  the  other  first  lieutenant. 

Having  saved  twelve  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  from 
his  earnings  in  teaching,  Mr.  Pickett  was  enabled  to 
pursue  a  cherished  plan  of  study  at  Yale  College,  where 
he  joined  the  Senior  class,  and  graduated  in  1858.  He 
greatly  prized  the  opportunities  for  culture  afforded 
him  at  New  Haven.  Though  not  in  firm  health,  he 
pursued  his  studies  vigorously,  and  made  more  broad 
and  solid  his  foundations  for  usefulness.  His  heart 
was  deeply  enlisted  in  the  revival  of  religion  which  that 
year  blessed  the  college.  In  Professor  Goodrich,  he 
recognized  a  model  man. 

In  the  fall  of  1858,  he  entered  the  Theological  Semi- 
nary at  Andover,  Mass.,  and  pursued  the  full  course  of 
study  for  three  years  with  industry  and  zeal.  Not  neg- 
lecting opportunities  of  usefulness  or  the  culture  of  the 


A^  Ajidover.  19 

heart,  he  labored  frequently  in  religious  meetings  and 
Bible  classes,  and,  amid  the  walks  and  woods  of  Ando- 
ver,  kept  up  his  habits  of  communion  with  nature  and 
of  devout  meditation.  During  his  first  winter  there, 
he  wrote  :  — 

Our  oceanic  winds  and  rain-storms  are  a  conglomeration  of  hail, 
sleet,  and  snow,  which  loads  the  trees  ;  but,  let  it  come  pleasant 
when  they  are  thus  adorned,  and  it  is  difficult  to  conceive  of  any- 
thing more  beautiful.  A  week  since,  a  damp,  frosty  snow  fell 
upon  the  trees  during  the  night  and  arranged  itself  in  crystals,  so 
that  the  morning  revealed  as  glorious  a  spectacle  as  one  could 
imagine.  As  we  passed  between  the  elms  that  interweave  their 
branches  above  our  walks,  covered  with  millions  of  crystals,  I 
remarked  to  my  classmate  that  never  did  royal  monarch  walk 
beneath  a  more  gorgeous  canopy. 

During  the  summer  vacation  of  1859,  he  labored 
under  the  Vermont  Home  Missionary  Society  at  North 
Hyde  Park  and  Eden,  Lamoille  County,  but  overtaxed 
himself,  and  was  laid  aside  by  sickness.  He  recovered 
so  as  to  return  to  the  seminary,  but  was  again  pros- 
trated for  several  weeks.  Upon  regaining  his  health, 
such  was  his  ardor  and  devotion  that  he  soon  made  up 
all  he  had  lost  in  his  prescribed  studies. 


CHAPTER   II. 

MINISTRY    AT  WENTWORTH,  N.H.,  AND   MOUNT    PLEASANT, 

IOWA. 

^OWARD  the  close  of  his  seminary  course,  he  was 
invited  to  return  to  North  Hyde  Park,  being  "  the 
one  that  always  came  to  mind  as  the  minister  they 
needed."  But  his  steps  were  directed  to  Wentworth, 
Grafton  County,  N.H.,  where  he  found  a  happy  field  of 
labor  for  two  years,  among  an  intelligent  and  a  refined 
people,  who  appreciated  the  devotion  and  kindling  fervor 
of  his  ministry,  and  invited  him  to  become  their  pastor. 
A  work  of  grace  prevailed  during  much  of  the  time. 
Eighteen  were  added  to  the  church  by  profession,  and 
twelve  by  letter.  He  was  ordained  an  Evangelist  at 
Bristol,  N.H.,  January  2,  1862,  in  company  with  a  class- 
mate, Rev.  C.  F.  Abbott.  The  sermon  was  preached  by 
Cyrus  W.  Wallace,  D.D.,  and  the  ordaining  prayer 
offered  by  Rev.  Liba  Conant.  A  few  months  after- 
ward, April  10,  he  was  united  in  marriage  at  West 
Williamsfield,  Ohio,  with  Miss  Mary  Jane,  daughter  of 
Rev.  George  and  Ann  J.  (Marvin)  Roberts,  a  lady  of 
gentle  ways  and  sunny  disposition,  inheriting  the  faith 
and  devotion  of  her  lamented  father,  whose  praise  is  in 
the  churches  of  North-eastern  Ohio  to  this  day.  He 
died  May  7,  1857. 

At  Wentworth,   Mr.   Pickett's  enjoyment  of  nature 


''Pickett's  Hilir  21 

was  intense.  The  strength  of  the  hills  was  his  delight. 
A  short  distance  from  his  home  is  a  lofty  hill,  covered 
with  evergreens  and  maples,  and  affording  a  fine  pros- 
pect. Thither  he  resorted  almost  dail}^  book  in  hand, 
to  read  and  study  and  pray.  There  he  poured  out  his 
heart  for  the  country, —  it  was  at  the  commencement  of 
the  Rebellion, —  and  revolved  the  questions  of  going  to 
the  war  as  a  private  soldier  or  chaplain,  of  entering 
the  foreign  missionary  field,  or  going  to  the  Far  West, 
or  remaining  in  New  England.  The  hill  was  soon 
called  "  Pickett's  Hill,"  and  still  retains  the  name.  He 
visited  it  whenever  in  after  years  he  went  to  Wcnt- 
worth.  In  1861  and  in  1862,  he  made  a  tour  to  the 
White  Mountains,  and  again,  at  a  later  day,  with  his 
two  boys. 

To  leave  this  delightful  region  and  his  pleasant  asso- 
ciations with  the  Church  cost  him  no  little  struggle. 
But  a  voice  seemed  to  say:  "Other  fields  have  been 
appointed  you.  Up,  and  away  to  your  life-work ! "  The 
claims  of  Portland,  Oregon,  and  of  fields  in  Nebraska 
and  Missouri,  and  the  wants  of  Iowa,  were  pressed 
upon  his  attention.  On  leaving,  the  Church  expressed 
their  appreciation  of  him  as  *'a  diligent  and  faithful 
laborer,  spiritually-minded,  abounding  in  prayers,  and 
a  ready  and  able  speaker,  rightly  divining  the  Word." 
He  had  found  the  Church  weak  :  he  left  it  strong.  His 
heart  often  reverted  to  this  field.  "  We  long  for  the 
hills,"  he  wrote.  "  I  want  the  mayflowers  every  spring, 
and  a  leaf  from  the  old  maple-tree  that  shaded  my 
window,    and   something  from    '  Pickett's    Hill '   every 


22  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

autumn."  After  removing  to  Colorado,  he  wrote : 
"Our  home  faces  Pike's  Peak  and  glorious  mountain 
scenery.  But  its  vast  and  varied  grandeur  is  not  yet 
so  precious  to  me  as  the  sweet  beauty  of  New  Hamp- 
shire's hills,  and  her  rushing  watercourses." 

During  the  summer  of  1863,  he  visited  the  West  to 
see  its  condition  and  wants,  and  look  at  fields  that  were 
calling  for  laborers.  He  spent  several  weeks  at  Coun- 
cil Bluffs  and  Nebraska  City,  and  was  urged  by  a  little 
band  of  struggling  Christians  in  each  place  to  remain 
with  them.  In  Nebraska  City,  he  preached  a  vigorous 
discourse  on  the  day  of  National  Thanksgiving  for  the 
victories  at  Vicksburg  and  Gettysburg,  that  was  cheer- 
ing to  the  friends  of  the  country  in  that  community, 
where  a  powerful  secession  element  had  existed  from 
the  beginning  of  the  war. 

On  the  1 2th  of  August,  he  visited  Mount  Pleasant, 
Henry  County,  Iowa.  The  opportunity  of  usefulness 
there,  with  the  cordial  welcome  given  him,  seemed  a 
divine  call  to  that  field.  Here  he  spent  the  next  six 
years,  laboring  with  fervor  and  diligence,  carrying  the 
gospel  into  destitute  neighborhoods,  helping  the  schools, 
promoting  the  cause  of  temperance,  addressing  public 
meetings  in  each  township  in  the  county  for  the  Bible 
Society,  of  which  he  was  president,  enlisting  in  every 
effort  for  the  improvement  of  society,  and  raising  the 
church  from  dependence  upon  the  Missionary  Society 
to  self-support. 

Of  free  and  cordial  manners,  he  won  men  to  him. 
He  had  remarkable  facility  and  despatch   in  visiting 


At  Mi.  Pleasant.  23 

from  house  to  house,  and  had  a  word  in  season  for 
every  person,  from  the  oldest  to  the  youngest.  No 
one  was  too  humble  for  his  care.  In  highways  and  by- 
ways, he  sought  out  the  wandering.  His  genial  spirit, 
his  untiring  and  ungrudging  labors,  made  for  him  a 
host  of  friends  outside  his  congregation.  In  his  favor- 
ite work  of  evangelism  among  outlying  districts,  he 
was  swift  of  foot,  often  performing  feats  of  pedestrian- 
ism  ;  walking  long  distances  to  preaching  stations,  and 
allowing  neither  extreme  heat  nor  severe  cold  nor 
muddy  roads  nor  storms  nor  swollen  streams  to  detain 
him  from  appointments.  On  one  occasion,  in  winter, 
finding  the  ice  gone  on  which  he  expected  to  cross  a 
creek,  he  stripped  off  his  lower  clothing,  and  *'  waded 
in."  He  got  safely  over,  dressed  himself,  went  on  his 
way,  and  fulfilled  his  appointment.  He  had  preached 
that  morning  in  Mount  Pleasant.  He  returned  there 
on  a  hand-car,  working  his  passage  part  of  the  way,  and 
preached  again  at  night.  He  organized  churches  at 
Rome  and  Hickory  Grove, —  one  eight  miles  west,  and 
the  other  five  miles  north,  of  Mount  Pleasant.  Review- 
ing his  work  with  the  latter  Church,  at  the  dedication 
of  their  house  of  worship,  in  1870,  he  wrote :  — 

As  I  looked  upon  the  beautiful  church,  crowded  with  people,  my 
heart  was  filled  with  gratitude  at  the  thought  of  what  God  has 
wrought.  Less  than  three  years  since,  the  church  was  organized 
with  fear  and  trembling  in  a  small,  wretched,  old  school-house, 
where  I  had  preached  for  some  months,  without  even  a  desk  to 
lay  my  Bible  on.  Now  a  membership  of  fifty  earnest  Christians 
gathered  from  all  classes  is  making  its  influence  felt  through  the 
region.     It  procured  aid  from  the  Congregational  Union  to  the 


24  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

amount  of  two  hundred  dollars,  but  has  not  asked  a  cent  from  the 
Home  Missionary  Society,  and  is  free  from  debt. 

In  July  and  August,  1864,  he  visited  the  scenes  of 
the  war  in  Tennessee  and  Georgia,  at  the  call  of  the 
Christian  Commission,  to  carry  the  ministry  of  reUgion 
among  the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers.  The  following 
extracts  are  from  his  letters  while  in  that  service  :  — 

J2ily  12,  1864.  — At  Louisville,  everything  is  changed  from  what 
it  was  seven  years  ago.  Military  officers  now  occupy  the  place  of 
the  Southern  chivalry.  Troops  were  marching  here  and  there 
through  the  city,  some  hurrying  to  the  front,  others  returning. 
Thursday  we  started  for  Nashville.  Soldiers  with  muskets  and 
bayonets  stood  at  the  doors  of  the  cars.  Nine  years  ago,  I  had 
gone  in  a  stage  over  this  route.  War  has  changed  the  appearance 
of  the  country ;  but  few  crops  are  being  raised,  and  these  very 
poor.  At  Munfordsville,  I  saw  the  first  rebel  works.  Long  lines 
of  rifle-pits  had  been  constructed,  and  other  fortifications,  all 
now  deserted.  Here  a  vast  rebel  army  flushed  with  hope  once 
confronted  us.  Onward  to  the  South,  mile  upon  mile,  we  moved, 
past  rebel  works  which  are  now  in  our  hands.  I  never  realized 
before  how  much  we  have  done  toward  putting  down  the  Rebel- 
lion. We  came  in  sight  of  the  Cumberland  River,  on  whose  banks 
I  once  spent  so  many  happy  days  ;  but  now  everything  speaks  of 
desolation.  Bristling  bayonets  guard  the  whole  way.  We  found 
Nashville  full  to  overflowing  of  military  men.  The  Christian 
Commission  occupy  a  large  house  in  the  city,  owned  by  a  rebel, 
who  had  run  away  with  his  family.  He  left  the  most  of  his  furni- 
ture, which  was  convenient  for  us.  On  the  second  floor,  in  the 
hall  was  a  nice  baby-carriage.  The  nest  was  there,  but  the  birdie 
had  flown.     I  hope  the  little  one  will  not  be  nursed  into  a  rebel. 

In  the  morning,  I  rose  at  daylight,  found  it  raining;  and  in  the 
rain,  far  up  and  down  the  street,  was  a  cavalry  regiment.  I 
walked  out  to  see  them,  and  asked,  "What  regiment  is  this?" 
"  Fifth   Iowa   Cavalry,"  said  they.      "  Where  are   you   bound  ? " 


Work  at  the  South.  25 

"  We  do  not  know."  They  had  started  from  camp  at  midnight, 
to  leave  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  ;  but  for  some  reason  did  not 
go.  I  was  glad  to  find  a  regiment  from  our  State,  and  went 
around  among  them. 

After  breakfast,  we  filled  our  haversacks  with  books,  papers, 
and  writing  material,  and  started  for  Cumberland  Hospital,  about 
one  mile  out  of  the  city.  Here  are  several  hundred  large  tents, 
with  over  three  thousand  sick  and  wounded  in  rows  of  low  beds. 
Coming  to  one  of  the  tents,  I  would  say,  as  cheerfully  as  I  could, 
"  Good-morning,  soldiers  !  How  do  you  all  do  ?  "  They  would 
turn  their  pale,  ghastly  faces  with  a  questioning  look.  "I  have 
come  to  cheer  you,"  said  I.  "  Have  brought  you  books  and  papers 
from  home.  The  loved  ones  think  of  you,  and  pray  for  you." 
Then  you  ought  to  have  seen  the  smile  and  the  welcome,  as  from 
tent  to  tent  I  distributed  my  papers,  and  told  the  dear  boys  of 
home.  I  found  all  kinds  of  wounds.  Many  were  wounded  in  the 
head;  some,  in  the  eye;  some,  in  the  back,  so  that  they  had  to  lie 
on  their  faces;  some  with  legs  off;  some  with  arms  off.  I  ask, 
"  Where  were  you  wounded  1 "  Many  reply,  "  At  Kenesaw  Moun- 
tain." Nearly  half  of  the  present  wounded  are  from  that  gory  field. 
I  am  tired  of  the  very  name.  I  entered  one  tent,  and  said,  "  You 
do  not  get  discouraged,  do  you?"  "Oh,  no!"  said  one:  "we  do 
not  allow  any  blues  here.  It  will  do  no  good."  I  looked  at  him. 
There  he  lay,  with  his  leg  amputated  above  the  knee  !  I  thought, 
"  That  is  courage,  which  would  do  well  for  faint  hearts  at  home." 

We  left  Nashville  on  a  hospital  train,  full  of  beds  which  lay  on 
boards  adapted  to  the  purpose.  It  looked  hke  work  to  see  a 
long  train  of  cars  pushing  to  the  front,  to  be  filled  with  wounded 
and  dying  men.  At  every  little  bridge  was  a  stockade,  where  we 
threw  out  papers  to  men  eager  to  read.  At  Tullahoma,  I  held  two 
services  on  the  Sabbath  in  the  wards  of  the  hospital.  Some  were 
so  sick  I  did  not  dare  to  be  long. 

We  found  the  road  full  of  wild  interest, —  watched  for  bush- 
whackers, saw  three  or  four  places  where  trains  had  been  thrown 
off  a  few  days  before  by  torpedoes.  At  one  place,  the  cars  ran 
into   one   another  two   weeks   ago,  the   passenger   train   full  of 


26  Memoirs  of  Joseph    W.  Pickett. 

wounded  men.  A  large  number  were  killed,  and  others  worse 
wounded. 

At  Stevenson,  Ala.,  we  went  to  the  Soldiers'  Home,  formerly 
"Alabama  House,"  where  Jeff.  Davis  made  his  speech.  I  never 
realized  the  blessings  of  home  so  much  as  when  we  went  to  our 
miserable  bed.  In  the  morning,  we  visited  a  colored  school.  The 
children  and  grown  girls  and  boys  sat  on  low,  narrow  seats,  in 
a  leaky  house,  without  a  floor,  with  bare  feet  and  dresses  drag- 
gling in  water  and  mud.  The  teacher  was  from  Wisconsin,  and 
seemed  discouraged.  She  said  that  the  people  were  abused.  We 
heard  a  class  read  that  showed  remarkable  aptitude. 

Here  we  fell  in  with  a  quartermaster  who  proved  to  be  an  old 
acquaintance.  Captain  Warren,  of  Jackson  County,  who  procured 
horses  for  us ;  and  we  rode  far  out  beyond  the  pickets,  but  saw 
nothing  to  frighten  us,  only  dead  horses  and  mules.  Alone,  I 
ascended  a  mountain,  two  miles  to  the  summit,  where  I  got  a 
splendid  view  of  the  village,  with  its  fortifications  and  surrounding 
mountains. 

Chattanooga^  Tenn.^  July  15. —  From  Stevenson  to  this  point, 
the  country  is  mountainous ;  stockades,  only  a  short  distance 
apart,  over  the  whole  route.  We  passed  beneath  the  frowning 
cliffs  which,  rising  perpendicular  from  the  river,  mark  the  first 
bench  of  Lookout  Mountain.  The  town  is  full  of  fortifications, 
soldiers,  black  and  white ;  while  Lookout  Mountain  looms  above 
us,  full  of  native  as  well  as  historic  grandeur.  Mission  Ridge,  in 
full  view,  stretches  about  two  miles  away  to  the  south  of  us,  while 
the  broad  Tennessee  hugs  the  northern  side. 

I  am  sad  and  sick  at  heart.  It  seems  almost  wrong  to  look 
toward  my  own  sweet  home  and  think  how  soon  I  am  to  enjoy  it, 
when  so  many  are  suffering  and  in  agony,  with  no  hope  of  seeing 
loved  ones  again.  I  do  not  know  whether  it  is  best  to  tell  you  of 
all  I  have  seen  and  heard  to-day;  yet  perhaps  you  can  endure  a 
few  words  as  well  as  I  could  the  whole  day.  But  what  is  this  to 
all  the  poor  soldiers  suffer.^  I  was  assigned  to  Hospital  No.  i, 
where  are  the  worst  cases  of  wounds.     Men  who  were  brought 


Sufferings  of  Soldiers.  27 

from  the  battle  on  cars,  and  could  not  be  moved  farther,  were  left 
at  this,  the  nearest  hospital.  Nearly  all  the  wounded  had  legs  off 
above  the  knee.  They  lay  in  the  oppressive  heat,  with  a  bandage 
on  the  limb,  fanning,  to  keep  the  swarms  of  flies  off.  Here,  a 
nurse  was  washing  a  Hmb  which  looked  like  raw,  spoiled  meat. 
In  one  tent,  a  young  man's  face  was  literally  black  with  flies. 
They  had  crawled  between  his  lips.  I  took  a  fan  and  brushed 
them  away,  and  talked  with  him.  I  asked  him  where  he  was 
from.  How  strange  it  sounded  !  "Ashtabula  County,  Ohio  ;  from 
Dorset."  Was  attending  Kingsville  Academy  when  he  enlisted. 
He  said,  "  I  wish  I  was  back  again."  And  well  he  might,  for  he 
would  probably  live  but  a  few  days. 

In  one  of  the  long  buildings  I  entered,  there  lay  a  poor  fellow 
struggling  in  awful  agony.  His  amputated  limb  had  become  so 
bad  that  they  reamputated  it  a  few  hours  before,  and  now  he  was 
dying.  Opposite,  the  nurse  was  dressing  the  leg  of  a  noble- 
looking  fellow  whose  limb  had  been  amputated  near  the  hip,  pick- 
ing off  decayed  matter  with  a  pair  of  forceps.  It  was  a  terrible 
sight.  He  groaned  each  time  they  touched  it,  and  pleaded  with 
them  not  to  be  so  harsh.  The  flesh  had  decayed  over  the  end  of 
the  limb,  and  been  removed,  leaving  great  holes.  After  they  were 
through,  "  Hand  me  the  glass,"  he  said ;  and,  reaching  down, 
held  it  so  as  to  reflect  the  end  of  the  limb,  and  asked :  "  Doctor, 
you  said  it  looked  better.  Are  those  deep,  black  holes  better  ?  I 
cannot  see  it."  Poor  fellow !  The  doctor  says  the  chances  are 
against  him.  On  farther  was  a  man  nearly  gone,  who  mingled 
with  others'  groans  the  singing  of  Psalms.  1  passed  on  to  some 
quiet  sufferers,  and  said,  "Is  not  this  a  hard  place  for  you?" 
"Oh,  yes,"  they  said.  "  It  is  as  much,"  said  I,  "as  a  well  man 
can  endure."  I  gave  them  some  fresh  papers,  and  they  went  to 
reading. 

The  field  agent  wanted  me  to  preach  last  night.  I  had  thought 
my  day's  work  through,  and  told  him  I  was  too  tired.  He  was 
kind,  and  said  he  would  go ;  but  he  was  worn  down,  and  I  went. 
There  were  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  present,  all  soldiers. 

July  19. —  Have  been  busy  as  a  bee.  Sent  three  hundred  dol- 
lars yesterday  from  various    sick    soldiers   to  their  homes   by 


2S  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

express.  I  have  much  to  encourage  and  interest  me.  Many  poor 
sufferers  are  inquiring  the  way  of  salvation.  Pray  for  a  blessing 
upon  my  labors.  What  a  sweet  thought, —  that  in  the  resurrec- 
tion some  may  rise  up  from  the  army  of  the  Cumberland  whom  I 
have  benefited ! 

A  day  or  two  ago,  as  I  entered  one  of  the  hospital  buildings,  I 
saw  a  man  writhing  in  extreme  pain,  shot  through  both  hips,  and 
the  pain  darting  down  his  limbs.  I  asked :  "  How  do  you  bear 
your  sufferings  to-day  ?  That  is  hard,  is  it  not  ? "  "  Oh,"  says  he, 
"  the  hardest  of  all  is  that  I  have  thrown  my  life  away.  I  have 
sacrificed  all  for  nothing.  It  will  do  no  good.  We  shall  never 
succeed."  I  was  surprised ;  had  never  heard  a  soldier  talk  so 
before.  "  Oh,  no !  It  will  be  all  for  the  best,"  I  said.  I  asked 
him  where  he  was  from.  Found  he  was  a  rebel,  from  Alabama, 
a  noble-looking  fellow,  and  a  Christian.  He  seemed  to  have  no 
hope  for  the  Confederacy;  was  wounded  as  they  fell  back  from 
Kenesaw  Mountain;  said  God  was  bringing  all  this  on  us  for  our 
sins,  and  that  we  ought  to  be  a  united  nation.  Poor  boy  !  I  gave 
him  something  to  read,  and  left  him.  Many  are  dying.  I  stop  at 
the  operating-room  every  day.  They  give  chloroform,  and  then 
cut  away  at  the  old  wound,  taking  out  gangrene.  You  could  not 
bear  to  look  on. 

On  the  22d  of  July,  he  made  the  ascent  of  Lookout 
Mountain,  starting  out  early  in  the  morning,  with 
breakfast  in  his  pocket.  The  next  day,  he  proceeded 
to  the  front  on  a  hospital  train,  and  spent  the  following 
two  weeks  with  the  army  then  laying  siege  to  Atlanta. 

In  the  Fields  three  miles  froin  Atlanta^  Ga.^  July  26,  1864. — 
From  Vining's,  at  the  end  of  the  railroad,  we  got  a  ride  in  the  am- 
bulances which  had  come  with  loads  of  wounded  men.  Some  had 
died  on  the  way.  After  riding  two  miles  in  a  choking,  blinding 
dust,  we  stopped  at  the  Chattahooche,  for  the  teamsters  to  dine. 
The  mules  were  much  exhausted.  After  a  slow  ride  of  five  or  six 
miles  on  this  side  of  the  river,  we  came  to  the  hospital  of  the 


^'Excitement  of  Danger''  29 

Twentieth  Army  Corps,  where  we  were  cordially  received.  It 
consists  of  tents  in  the  woods.  All  seemed  clean.  The  patients 
lie  on  the  ground.  A  gentle  stream  murmured  near,  in  which 
some  were  bathing.  We  slept  on  the  ground,  amid  the  heavy 
boom  of  the  siege-guns  and  the  groans  of  the  dying. 

This  morning,  I  rose  early,  visited  some  wounded  rebels,  and 
became  acquainted  with  the  medical  director  of  the  Fifteenth 
Corps,  to  which  1  was  assigned.  We  started  with  him  about  ten 
o'clock,  after  helping  to  load  the  ambulances  with  wounded  men 
who  were  going  Nonh.  Proceeding  a  mile,  we  saw  where  Hooker 
had  his  terrible  but  short  fight.  Many  new  graves  attested  the 
severity  of  the  struggle.  Many  Ohio  boys  were  marked  on  the 
head-boards.  The  surgeon  got  off  his  horse,  put  on  our  baggage 
of  heavy  blankets,  knapsacks,  and  canteens,  and  led  the  horse. 
We  went  to  the  front  of  our  line,  where  I  was  under  fire  for  the 
first  time.  A  shell  from  a  rebel  battery  burst  in  the  air  above  us, 
left  a  little  white  cloud  of  smoke,  and  passed  away.  The  sharp- 
shooters were  but  a  little  beyond.  As  we  passed  on,  one  was 
brought  along  on  a  stretcher  wounded.  You  cannot  imagine  what 
strange  exhilar-ition  I  felt  in  the  excitement  of  a  little  danger, — 
the  novelty,  the  booming  cannon,  the  soldiers  around  us  ;  some 
firing  at  long  intervals ;  one  reading  a  history  of  America,  lying 
behind  the  breastworks.  On  we  came  to  the  eastward,  winding 
here  and  there,  to  General  O.  O.  Howard's  head-quarters,  where 
we  now  are  with  his  chief  commissary.  Colonel  David  Remick, — 
where  we  have  all,  and  abound.  The  cannon  roar  out  on  the 
night  air.  We  expect  a  move  to-morrow.  May  God  prosper  the 
right!  We  had  a  precious  interview  with  General  Howard  this 
afternoon.     He  is  a  noble,  lovely  man. 

July  28.  —  Yesterday,  General  Sherman  commenced  a  flank 
movement  toward  our  right,  or  to  the  west  of  Atlanta.  The  sev- 
eral corps  to  the  east  of  us  broke  camp  about  midnight,  a  part 
reaching  here  soon  after  daylight.  And  of  all  the  sights  !  Woods, 
roads,  fields,  far  and  near,  full  of  soldiers,  halted  and  preparing 
breakfast ;  muskets  stacked,  little  fires  built  to  prepare  coffee  and 
fry  meat,  each  soldier  carrying  his  little  iron  coffee-cup  and  spider. 


30  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

The  rail  fences  were  soon  used  up,  and  soldiers  busy  eating  pork 
and  hard-tack.  I  found  the  Sixth  and  Twenty-fifth  Iowa.  A  large 
number  of  Mount  Pleasant  boys  gathered  around  me.  I  wrote 
ten  letters  for  soldiers  this  morning.  I  wrote  for  one  poor  rebel 
boy,  who  was  shot  through  the  lungs.  How  he  wept  as  he  sent 
word  to  his  father !  He  said  his  mother  could  not  stand  it.  He 
was  from  Southern  Alabama.  Wagons  were  moving  steadily  all 
day.  I  never  realized  how  much  work  it  is  to  move  an  army. 
The  troops  formerly  on  the  left  are  forming  on  the  right.  Heavy 
cannonading  all  along  the  line.  Night  and  day,  at  short  intervals, 
our  ears  are  greeted  with  the  heavy  peals. 

July  30. —  A  battle  was  raging  on  our  right  at  the  time  of  the 
cannonading.  The  Fifteenth  Corps  had  been  ordered  to  form  on 
the  right  of  the  Sixteenth,  and  had  just  reached  their  position  and 
thrown  down  a  few  logs,  when  the  rebels  were  seen  coming  up 
within  a  few  rods,  in  dense  woods.  Our  men  were  ordered  to  fall 
behind  these  slight  works  and  fire.  This  was  the  commencement 
of  a  fierce  engagement  of  several  hours,  when  the  enemy  with- 
drew, not  having  once  reached  our  lines. 

Yesterday  morning.  Colonel  Remick  asked  us  if  we  would  not 
like  to  ride  along  the  lines.  As  we  had  been  working  hard,  we 
concluded  to  have  a  little  rest.  The  colonel  took  his  orderly  to 
wait  on  us  and  the  horses.  We  took  a  westerly  direction,  toward 
our  right.  The  skirmishers  were  cracking  away.  Pop,  pop,  went 
the  guns,  and  boomed  the  heavy  cannon.  We  dismounted  several 
times,  and  went  up  to  the  breastworks.  We  could  see  the  rebel 
works  and  men  walking  over  them. 

Our  forces  were  still  passing  to  the  right.  Regiment  after  regi- 
ment blocked  the  way.  There  was  no  display.  Generals  walked 
their  horses,  color-bearers  had  their  flags  furled.  The  men  kept 
no  regular  step,  no  music,  but  filed  along  the  road,  as  full  as  it 
could  be  packed  for  miles.  It  was  a  grand  spectacle.  Those 
scar-worn  veterans  meant  work.  Some  looked  weary  under  their 
heavy  knapsacks,  but  all  marched  on.  We  were  obliged  to  take 
to  the  woods  for  a  long  distance  in  passing  them,  and  at  length 


Geft.  Corse  and  Gen,  Sherman.  31 

found  the  quarters  of  Brigadier-General  Corse,  of  Burlington, 
who  commands  a  division  of  the  Sixteenth  Corps.  He  took  us  to 
his  works,  showed  his  mounted  cannon,  and  Atlanta  through  his 
glass.  I  saw  the  rebels  standing  thick  on  their  works,  about 
a  mile  away.  We  then  went  on  to  the  Fifteenth  Corps  and  to 
the  battle-field,  a  few  rods  distant.  It  was  horrible.  The  rebels 
had  not  been  buried  at  this  point,  and  lay  as  they  fell.  Nearest 
our  works  was  a  rebel  captain,  cold  in  death,  pierced  with  many 
bullets.  Just  back  of  him  lay  his  men.  All  had  their  clothes 
on,  clotted  with  blood.  Some  were  wounded  in  the  head.  Their 
clotted  hair  and  ghastly  faces  presented  a  horrible  appearance. 
We  walked  on.  It  was  the  same, —  some  on  their  faces,  some 
on  their  backs.  At  one  oak-tree,  which  was  riddled  with  balls, 
lay  two  dead  rebels  side  by  side.  All  of  them  were  swarming 
with  flies.  We  left  the  sickening  sight,  impressed  more  than 
ever  with  the  horrors  of  war.  I  never  saw  more  accurate  firing. 
Trees  at  about  the  height  of  four  feet  were  completely  riddled. 

We  now  began  to  return.  Passed  the  head-quarters  of  General 
Thomas.  Saw  him  looking  through  his  glass  at  the  enemy's 
works.  Also  passed  the  head-quarters  of  General  Sherman. 
Saw  him  reading  a  newspaper.  We  got  home  in  a  drenching 
rain  at  5  P.M.,  having  rode  along  a  greater  portion  of  the  Hue 
and  b-ick  again,  some  twenty  miles. 

August  2. —  Yesterday,  I  visited  the  hospitals.  The  soldiers 
seemed  very  glad  to  see  me.  I  greet  them  with  a  smile,  and  they 
almost  all  smile  back  again.  They  were  being  moved  :  poor,  pale, 
legless,  and  armless  men,  without  a  murmur,  were  lifted  into  am- 
bulances, to  be  jolted  over  these  rough  roads  in  the  woods.  We 
are  still  shifting  our  left  or  east  wing  to  the  right,  wishing,  by  slow 
approaches,  to  reach  the  railroad  south-west  of  town.  Yesterday, 
Schofield,  of  the  Twenty-third  Corps,  commenced  to  swing  his 
command  ten  or  twelve  miles  to  our  right  wing.  This  left  our 
hospitals  exposed  to  the  enemy.  We  were  stopping  in  a  house 
about  one  mjle  back  of  our  fortifications.  Fearing  the  enemy 
might  flank  us,  passing  round  our  left  wing,  we  ran  a  line   of 


32  Memoirs  of  Joseph    W.  Pickett. 

breastworks  nearly  north  and  south  along  the  east  side  of  the 
Fourth  Corps.  This  line  struck  the  centre  of  our  house.  Men 
came  in  squads,  with  shovels  and  picks  and  axes,  and  began  such 
a  clamor.  It  was  a  novel  sight  to  see  them  tear  down  the  house. 
They  looked  like  ants  running  to  and  fro  with  boards  and  joists. 
Soon  it  was  all  down, —  carried  away  to  make  breastworks.  The 
clatter  of  axes  was  heard,  cutting  down  trees.  The  rebels  can 
now  roam  where  I  have  labored  in  the  hospitals,  nearly  a  mile  east 
of  these  works.  I  am  safe  in  the  colonel's  tent,  with  the  Fourth 
Corps,  formerly  Howard's,  now  Stanley's,  between  me  and  harm. 
Cannot  do  much  to-day,  everything  is  so  stirred  up. 

Chattanooga^  Tenn.^  August  lo,  1864.  —  Back  in  Tennessee. 
How  differently  I  look  upon  everything  now!  The  movements  of 
single  regiments  seem  a  small  matter,  and  military  movements 
here  awaken  but  little  interest. 

I  held  service  at  Marietta,  Ga.,  on  the  Sabbath,  in  one  of  the 
hospitals :  preached  or  talked  in  three  of  the  wards.  The  inmates 
are  continually  changing,  whole  trains  going  North;  but  from  the 
fountain  of  sorrow  and  death  comes  a  never-failing  stream,  which 
fills  up  their  number  day  after  day.  A  tide  of  lusty  life  passes  to 
the  front :  it  surges  back,  shattered,  broken,  blood-stained. 

Mo7iday,  8. —  I  took  a  few  crackers  for  breakfast,  and  started  to 
ascend  Kenesaw  Mountain.  Several  members  of  the  Commission 
had  been  anxious  to  go,  but  were  dissuaded  on  account  of  gueril- 
las. I  thought  the  risk  to  me  alone  would  be  small,  as  I  trusted 
to  the  quickness  of  my  eye  to  see  an  enemy  before  he  saw  me. 
The  town  was  in  commotion  that  morning.  An  attack  was  ex- 
pected from  Wheeler's  cavalry.  Spies,  it  was  said,  had  entered 
the  city.  The  principal  streets  were  barricaded,  and  the  guards 
and  pickets  ordered  to  arrest  every  stranger  in  the  streets.  While 
in  the  suburbs,  a  lieutenant  sent  one  of  his  squad  for  me ;  but  he 
found  me  "  all  right,"  and  I  went  on  to  the  picket  lines,  but  could 
not  go  another  step.  Orders  were  stringent  to  pass  no  man  what- 
ever. So  I  went  back  to  the  provost-marshal.  Men  were  being 
marched  in  there  by  the  scores.     Among  them,  one  of  our  Chris- 


Back  to  Mt.  Pleasajtt.  33 

tian  Commission  men,  who  had  charge  of  the  rooms,  came  in  with 
a  bayonet  behind  him.  I  roared,  as  he  hked  to  get  the  laugh  on 
others,  and  had  been  afraid  to  go  to  Kenesaw,  though  starting 
twice.  He  said  to  me,  "  Are  you  caught,  too  ? "  "  Oh,  no  !  These 
guards  can  tell  an  honest  man,"  I  answered.  I  then  asked  the 
marshal  for  a  pass,  which  he  gave  immediately. 

I  left,  passed  the  pickets,  and  was  soon  in  the  land  of  desola- 
tion, silence,  and  death.  Along  the  way  were  blackened  ruins, 
stripped  fruit-trees,  corn-fields  cut  up,  not  a  pig,  hen,  goose,  or 
chicken.  Leaving  the  main  road,  where  guerillas  would  waylay  a 
traveller,  I  plunged  into  the  dark  forests  at  the  mountain's  base. 
I  found  some  lovely  spots.  In  one  place,  sweet  odors  filled  the 
air.  The  woods  were  filled  with  flowers,  several  varieties  of  which 
I  picked,  and  laid  away  in  my  book  for  a  certain  lady.  I  started 
straight  up  the  rugged  side  of  the  mountain ;  after  some  fatigue, 
reached  the  summit,  where  were  stationed  a  guard  of  eight  men. 
Had  a  beautiful  view,  somewhat  like  that  at  Vining's ;  the  cannon 
smoke  of  Atlanta  visible,  and  the  reverberations  fell  upon  the  ear. 
Almost  at  my  feet  lay  the  lovely  Marietta,  at  this  distance  reveal- 
ing few  of  the  desolations  of  war.  South-east  was  Stone  Moun- 
tain, while  to  the  north-east  my  own  loved  Blue  Ridge  swept 
along  in  rugged  grandeur.  Lookout,  peering  down  upon  a  deso- 
lated land,  seemed  proud  to  be  delivered  from  foreign  hands,  and 
to  give  up  its  pure  air  and  gushing  fountains  to  recuperate  the 
strength  of  the  maimed  heroes  of  liberty.  The  mountain-top 
where  I  stood  was  scarred  and  shattered.  I  followed  the  line  of 
rebel  breastworks  for  a  mile  and  a  half  to  the  west,  picked  up 
cannon-balls,  and  wished  I  could  carry  them  away;  examined 
exploded  shells,  and  where  they  had  embedded  themselves  in  the 
solid  oak ;  saw  where  the  battle  raged  hottest,  and  came  down. 
Got  back  safely,  and  started  at  2  P.M.  for  this  place,  where  we 
arrived  at  ten  o'clock  next  morning. 

Returning  from  his  labors  for  the  soldiers,  Mr. 
Pickett  prosecuted  his  ministry  at  Mount  Pleasant 
with  unflagging  assiduity  and  zeal.      In  the  midst  of 


34  Memoirs  of  Joseph    W.  Pickett. 

his  usefulness,  his  life  was  darkened  by  a  great  sorrow, 
—  the  sickness  of  his  wife,  and  her  death,  June  25, 
t868,  leaving  two  little  boys,  John  and  George,  to  cling 
the  more  closely  to  their  father's  guiding  hand. 

A  year  later,  he  was  called  to  take  the  superin- 
tendence of  Home  Missions  for  Southern  Iowa.  The 
devotion  and  success  of  his  ministry  had  become  well 
known,  and  his  zeal  in  evangelism  marked  him  as  pecul- 
iarly fitted  for  that  office.  At  the  same  time,  he  loved 
pastoral  work,  and  the  studies  incumbent  on  one  who 
would  feed  his  people  with  knowledge  and  understand- 
ing; and,  strong  in  the  affections  of  his  people,  the 
thought  of  giving  up  these  relations,  and  his  quiet 
home  and  the  immediate  care  of  his  children,  was  un- 
welcome, and  he  demurred.  Nothing  moved  him  but 
the  possibilities  of  very  great  usefulness,  of  which  the 
Rev.  Julius  A.  Reed  confidently  told  him.  He  set 
apart  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  to  consider  the  ques- 
tion and  ask  divine  guidance :  it  was  a  day  of  sacred 
memory,  just  one  year  after  his  wife's  death.  On  the 
next  day,  June  26,  1869,  he  signified  his  acceptance  of 
the  appointment,  and  wrote  :  — 

I  will  cheerfully  give  up  everything  that  would  interfere  with 
this  work,  feeling  that  Christ  can  be  more  to  me  than  my  loved 
people,  that  he  can  give  me  a  sweeter  rest  than  that  of  home,  and 
that  he  will  provide  for  the  intellectual  development  of  tliose  who 
walk  in  the  path  of  duty. 

He  at  once  provided  a  good  home  for  his  children  at 
Mount  Pleasant,  and  removed  his  residence  to  Des 
Moines,  to  be  near  the  centre  of  his  field. 


CHAPTER  III. 

SUPERINTENDENT  OF  HOME  MISSIONS  IN  SOUTHERN  IOWA. 

^HE  operations  of  the  American  Home  Missionary 
Society  in  Iowa  were  commenced  in  1836,  three 
years  after  a  narrow  strip  of  its  territory,  "  The  Black 
Hawk  Purchase,"  was  opened  to  settlement.  Since 
that  period,  the  society  has  aided  in  planting  the 
gospel  and  in  sustaining  new  and  feeble  congregations 
in  every  portion  of  the  State.  All  the  Presbyterian 
churches  in  Iowa,  formerly  called  "  New  School,"  and 
all  the  Congregational  churches,  save  those  at  Den- 
mark, Grinnell,  Tabor,  Keokuk,  and  Farragut,  were 
assisted  by  this  society  in  their  infancy,  and  many  of 
them  for  a  series  of  years.  In  this  work,  the  society 
has  expended  more  than  six  hundred  thousand  dollars. 
Rev.  Asa  Turner,  who  still  survives  at  more  than  four- 
score to  witness  the  fruits  of  his  sacrifices  and  toils, 
was  the  first  agent.  It  was  at  his  call  that  a  band  of 
eleven  ministers  came  to  the  Territory  from  the  Theo- 
logical Institution  at  Andover,  Mass.,  of  the  class  of 
1843.  To  him  succeeded  Rev.  Julius  A.  Reed,  in  1845, 
and  Rev.  Jesse  Guernsey,  in  1858.  In  1862,  the  field 
was  divided  into  Northern  and  Southern  Iowa,  Mr. 
Guernsey  holding  the  former  and  Mr.  Reed  taking 
charge  of  the  latter.  In  November,  1864,  Rev.  Reuben 
Gaylord  was  called  to  the  supervision  of  Western  Iowa, 


36  Memoirs  of  Joseph    VV.  Pickett. 

in  conjunction  with  Nebraska.  In  addition  to  Mr. 
Reed's  district,  Mr.  Pickett's  superintendency  covered 
the  part  of  Iowa  that  had  been  under  Mr.  Gaylord. 
He  found  the  field  full  of  promise.  The  three  lines 
of  railway  that  passed  through  it  from  the  Mississippi 
to  the  Missouri  were  bringing  multitudes  to  make 
homes  there.  New  towns  were  springing  up.  The 
increase  of  population  was  large,  especially  in  South- 
western Iowa.  He  saw  it  to  be  a  critical  time  for  that 
fair  and  fertile  region,  and  he  threw  himself  into  the 
work  of  establishing  Christian  institutions  in  the  rising 
communities.  At  an  early  period  of  these  labors,  he 
wrote :  — 

As  in  loneliness  and  weariness  I  roam  these  rolling  prairies,  I 
foresee  some  of  the  wonderful  beauty  and  glory  that  twenty  years 
will  unfold.  Christian  homes,  with  waving  grain,  teeming  or- 
chards, and  groves  from  which  rise  church-spires,  will  then  cover 
these  now  untrodden  solitudes.  In  imagination,  I  hear  the  tramp 
of  the  coming  millions  who  are  to  find  homes  here  in  the  near 
future,  and  my  ardor  is  kindled  and  my  footsteps  quickened  as  I 
listen  to  the  command, — 

"  Prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord  : 
Make  straight  in  the  desert  a  highway  for  our  God." 

For  nine  years,  he  prosecuted  his  work  with  unflag- 
ging zeal  and  devotion,  in  season  and  out  of  season, 
usually  preaching  daily  during  the  winter  months,  and 
frequently  visiting  every  family  in  new  towns. 

It  is  gratifying  to  know,  he  said,  that  we  have  been  able  to  move 
with  this  moving  tide  of  population,  and  to  plant  in  new  towns  and 
on  the  broad  prairies  the  faith  and  order  of  the  Pilgrims.  Yet  our 
work  is  scarcely  begun.     We  need  churches  with  a  fervid  enthusi- 


Home  Missionary    Work.  37 

asm  for  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  and  many  more  young  ministers 
with  glowing  hearts  who  will  know  no  hardships  and  feel  no  bur- 
dens, and  who  will  move  among  this  heterogeneous  population 
with  a  spirit  so  Christ-Hke  as  to  win  a  way  into  every  humble 
cabin,  whether  Protestant,  Catholic,  or  infidel,  and  diffuse  an  at- 
mosphere of  love  that  will  draw  all  hearts.  I  am  resolved  to  give 
all  I  have  to  enthrone  Christ  in  this  lovely  State ;  and  my  greatest 
joy  is  to  welcome  others  to  the  fellowship  of  this  labor  and  sacri- 
fice. I  have  foregone  the  enjoyments  of  home  and  family  for  the 
sole  purpose  of  giving  myself  exclusively  to  the  work.  It  is  my 
habit  to  visit  the  pubHc  schools  as  far  as  possible.  Passing 
through  the  rooms  with  the  principal,  I  have  been  invited  to 
make  short  addresses,  so  that  I  have  often  made  half  a  dozen 
talks  on  methods  of  study  and  proper  preparation  for  life's  work, 
thus  preparing  the  way  for  religious  truth  at  church  service.  I 
have  frequently  held  children's  meetings  at  the  close  of  day- 
schools,  having  sometimes  overflowing  houses.  When  on  the 
field,  I  have  never  been  absent  from  a  Sunday-school,  and  inva- 
riably have  made  brief  addresses. 

He  gave  his  time  to  weak  and  pastorless  churches, 
and  especially  to  new  towns  that  afforded  an  opening 
for  the  planting  of  churches.  At  Carroll,  a  town  of  five 
hundred  inhabitants,  he  held  an  eight  days'  meeting, 
and  visited  the  whole  town.  Catholics  and  all.  Some 
prominent  citizens  were  converted,  and  united  with  the 
church.  Stopping  one  evening  at  Mondamin,  a  town 
of  a  few  hundred  inhabitants  on  the  Council  Bluffs  and 
Sioux  City  road,  he  learned  that  they  had  no  preach- 
ing. Notice  of  a  meeting  that  evening  was  circulated. 
A  crowded  house  awaited  him ;  and,  though  but  five 
hours  in  the  place,  a  movement  was  begun  that  re- 
sulted in  the  formation  of  a  church.  In  his  first  visit 
to   Grand   River,  Adair   County,    after   riding    twelve 


38  Memoirs  of  Joseph    W.  Pickett. 

miles  from  Stuart  in  a  farmer's  wagon,  he  walked  six 
miles,  much  of  the  way  through  heavy  snow-drifts,  was 
hungry  and  faint,  got  lost,  and  was  almost  frozen 
before  reaching  a  shelter.  One  starry,  winter's  night, 
he  reached  Cromwell,  then  a  railroad  terminus,  about 
midnight,  and,  kneeling  upon  the  frosty  ground,  asked 
God  to  reveal  to  him  his  work  there.  When  he  first 
passed  through  Creston,  the  site  contained  nothing  but 
a  calf-pen.  Soon  it  became  a  division  station,  and  the 
church  he  planted  gained  a  leading  position.  At  Anita, 
he  visited  on  foot  all  the  region  for  miles  around,  and 
gathered  members  from  six  denominations  mto  church 
fellowship.  He  saw  there  afterward  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  houses  of  worship  in  the  State. 

In  prosecuting  his  work,  he  affiliated  with  Christians 
of  every  name,  not  preferring  one  before  another,  doing 
nothing  by  partiality,  seeking  comity  and  peace  with 
all.  Reporting,  1876,  the  organization  of  six  churches, 
he  said :  — 

The  large  numbers  uniting  in  forming  these  churches  reveal  the 
approach  of  that  day  long  anticipated  and  prayed  for,  when  Chris- 
tians in  our  smaller  towns,  laying  aside  denominational  differ- 
ences, will  come  together  on  a  common  platform  of  evangelical 
faith.  The  various  denominations  united  with  the  utmost  har- 
mony, and  work  in  perfect  accord.  Houses  of  worship  are  reared, 
and  preaching  is  maintained  easily,  and  religion  is  honored  in  this 
unity  of  the  body  of  Christ.  Our  work  seems  clearly  defined,  to 
offer  our  aid  to '  communities  that  wish  to  unite  on  this  common 
platform.  We  bid  God-speed  to  all  who  wish  to  join  in  any  other 
church  polity ;  but  it  is  believed  that  as  many  churches  as  can  be 
cared  for  will  choose  to  fashion  their  faith  and  order  after  the 
simplicity  of  our  Congregational  brotherhood. 


The  **  Centennial.  "  39 

I  must  mention  one  fact,  not  boastfully,  but  gratefully,  in  token 
of  the  good  hand  of  my  God  upon  me,  which  perhaps  has  not 
happened  to  another  agent  of  the  society  occupying  so  hard  a 
field  for  so  long  a  time.  In  seven  years  of  labor,  I  have  never 
missed  an  appointment.  Trains  preceding  or  succeeding  me 
have  broken  down,  storms  have  blocked  travel,  bridges  have  been 
washed  away ;  and,  although  hundreds  of  appointments  have  been 
made  in  different  parts  of  the  State,  sometimes  for  weeks  before- 
hand. Providence  has  so  arranged  that  nothing  has  interfered 
with  my  original  plans. 

I  have  never  preached  a  "  collection  sermon  "  since  I  have  been 
in  the  work :  not  but  it  might  have  been  profitable  at  times  ;  but  I 
wished  to  present  spiritual  truth,  and  have  left  this  special  duty 
to  pastors.  The  result  has  been  satisfactory.  Contributions  on 
my  field  to  home  missions  have  increased. 

His  heart  throbbed  deeply  with  the  memories  of  the 
nation's  centennial,  in  1876.  He  visited  Philadelphia 
with  his  sons,  and  heard  the  bell  announce  at  midnight 
the  opening  of  a  new  century.  In  the  presence  of  the 
nations  there  represented,  and  among  the  exhibits  of 
the  world's  advancement,  the  summons  seemed  to  come 
to  him  louder  than  ever  to  guard  and  strengthen  on  his 
own  field  the  moral  principles  and  spiritual  forces  that 
underlie  the  peculiar  civilization  of  America.  In  1877, 
he  wrote :  — 

One  church  has  died  of  the  dry  rot  of  secret  society  and  general 
worldliness.  Proper  faith  and  courage  in  the  membership  would 
have  saved  it.  It  must  be  regarded  as  a  serious  loss  to  the  de- 
nomination and  to  the  community.  But,  when  a  church  resolves 
to  die,  I  know  of  no  way  but  to  let  it  do  so.  It  is  not  Congrega- 
tional to  prop  up  with  outside  help,  when  the  inside  is  gone. 

The  only  way  of  resisting  undue  denominational  pressure  is  to 
maintain  our  churches.     If,  when  this  pressure  comes,  as  come 


40  Memoirs  of  yoseph   W.  Pickett. 

it  will  in  every  community  of  enterprise  and  expectation,  we  throw 
up  our  hands  and  show  our  liberality  by  dying,  we  must  remember 
that  we  can  glorify  God  but  once  in  this  direction.  Whereas,  if 
we  live,  and  stretch  forth  our  hands  across  the  chasms  of  denomi- 
national strife  and  selfishness,  and  aid  in  every  good  work,  we 
shall  commend  the  faith  and  polity  of  our  fathers,  and  their  prin- 
ciples of  liberty  of  conscience  and  equality  of  condition  and  re- 
sponsibility. I  see  and  deplore  more  and  more  the  corrupting 
tendencies  of  the  centralized  forms  of  church  government.  I  am 
on  terms  of  some  intimacy  with  ministers  of  these  denominations, 
and  am  amazed  at  the  schemings  for  place  and  power,  the  rank- 
lings  and  heart-burnings,  among  them.  These  are  a  standing 
demand  for  a  polity  with  different  tendencies. 

As  I  look  back  to  the  time  I  first  entered  and  crossed  this  State, 
I  can  hardly  realize  that  this  beautiful  Iowa  is  the  same  land,  then 
so  wild  and  strange.  The  vast  prairies  of  Central  and  Western 
Iowa,  which  appeared  uninhabitable  to  my  inexperienced  eye,  are 
now  dotted  with  cities,  farm-houses,  school-houses,  and  churches. 
It  is  a  wonderful  transformation,  resembling  more  the  strangeness 
of  fable  than  sober  fact. 

There  is  a  great  work  yet  to  be  done  in  this  State.  It  may  be 
said  to  have  been  explored.  Unsurpassed  in  salubrity  of  climate, 
in  fertility  of  soil,  and  in  the  beauty  and  sublimity  of  its  vast  roll- 
ing prairies,  in  the  centre  of  the  continent,  in  the  direct  Hne  of 
trans-continental  travel,  its  inhabitants  noted  for  intelligence  and 
morality,  it  is  adapted  to  be  the  home  of  those  principles  of  civil 
and  religious  liberty  which  our  fathers  developed. 

In  1878,  he  wrote  :  — 

It  is  forty  years  this  May  since  the  first  Congregational  Church 
was  planted  in  Iowa,  at  Denmark.  Over  the  whole  region  of 
Central  and  Western  Iowa  roamed  the  Indian.  Now  this  vast 
area,  dotted  with  cities  and  villages  and  pleasant  country-homes, 
has  become  the  garden  of  the  Lord.  Christians  of  every  name 
have  come  to  possess  the  land,  and  have  worked  in  harmony  side 
by  side,  till  churches  and  school-houses  adorn  the  landscape  from 


His  Pecuniary  Liberality.  41 

the  Mississippi  to  the  Missouri.  We  now  have  two  hundred  and 
twenty-five  churches,  and,  at  the  close  of  these  forty  years  of  wan- 
dering and  planting,  are  going  in  to  possess  the  land  with  a  vigor 
and  energy  greater  than  ever  before.  Although  we  have  not  de- 
veloped as  rapidly  as  some  other  denominations,  we  have  reason 
to  thank  God  for  the  strong  hold  secured  in  this  Commonwealth 
by  those  churches  which  seem  to  us  the  representative  churches 
of  America. 

During  the  nine  years  of  my  superintendency,  Western  Iowa 
has  been  rapidly  settled,  and  is  destined  to  become  a  stronghold 
of  Congregationalism.  In  the  valley  of  the  Nishnabotana, —  the 
garden-spot  of  the  world, —  we  have  been  very  successful.  Of  the 
new  churches  planted,  scarcely  one  has  been  located  where  it  will 
not  be  able  to  grow  and  prosper.  Some  have  already  become  self- 
sustaining.  During  this  period,  thirty-three  churches  have  been 
organized  and  thirty-three  houses  of  worship  dedicated.  As  we 
look  into  the  future  of  this  State  and  of  these  churches,  we  feel 
that,  with  fidelity  and  reliance  upon  God,  it  is  to  be  even  brighter 
than  the  past. 

To  help  the  new  and  struggling  churches,  he  gave 
almost  half  of  his  salary,  also  a  portion  of  the  little 
patrimony  that  fell  to  him.  Chided  for  being  so  large 
and  unstinted  in  his  gifts,  nothing  could  repress  his 
devotion  and  sacrifice.  Though  reducing  himself  to 
straits  and  debt,  he  felt  that  the  opportunity  was  great 
and  critical,  and  worthy  the  burdens.  He  rarely  or 
never  alluded  to  these  things,  but  acted  upon  the 
apostolic  rule,  ''  He  that  giveth,  let  him  do  it  with 
simplicity."  Writing  confidentially  near  the  close  of 
his  labors  in  Iowa,  he  said :  — 

I  saw  during  these  years,  beyond  a  doubt,  that  we  were  settling 
the  condition  of  Congregationalism  in  Western  Iowa  for  years, 
perhaps  centuries ;  and  I  spared  nothing  in  time,  labor,  sacrifice, 


42  Memoirs  of  Joseph    W.  Pickett. 

or  money,  to  plant  our  faith  and  polity.  We  were  obliged  to  have 
houses  of  worship.  ...  I  am  now  twelve  hundred  dollars  in  debt 
at  bank.  But  the  crisis  is  past.  Railroad  and  town  building  have 
ceased ;  and  I  have  nothing  to  do  but  pay  my  debts,  and  Western 
Iowa  is  saved  to  us  forever. 

To  talk  of  common  interests  and  responsibilities  in 
his  beloved  circle  of  Iowa  workers,  develop  efficiency 
in  each  local  church,  promote  fellowship  and  co-opera- 
tion, diffuse  information  touching  every  department  of 
Christian  benevolence,  and  help  on  the  more  rapid 
progress  of  Christ's  kingdom  in  the  State,  he  published 
annually,  the  last  five  years  of  his  suiDcrintendency,  for 
gratuitous  distribution,  a  little  paper,  entitled  Church 
Work.  It  was  commenced  at  his  own  expense  ;  subse- 
quently, others  helped  a  little  in  the  cost ;  and  one  year 
the  Church  at  Des  Moines  defrayed  the  bill.  Three 
thousand  copies  of  each  number  were  circulated,  with 
an  additional  eight  hundred  the  last  year.  He  filled  it 
with  stirring  truths  and  facts,  to  awaken  inquiry  and 
stimulate  enterprise  and  zeal  in  every  good  work. 
Some  extracts  from  his  articles  in  it,  and  from  his 
other  papers  of  this  period,  show  his  views  of  duty  and 
life,  and  the  spirit  and  character  of  his  labors  :  — 

LETTERS  TO  THE  CHILDREN  OF  IOWA. 
I. 

HAVE   A   PLAN   IN   LIFE. 

Dear  Children  of  Iowa, —  I  cannot  send  out  this  paper  without 
writing  a  letter  to  you.  I  know  children  like  to  get  letters  from 
their  friends.  I  have  visited  many  of  you.  I  have  seen  some  of 
you  in  your  homes,  and  many  at  Sunday-school  and  at  church.     I 


Have  a  Plan  in  Life.  43 

have  visited  many  thousands  of  you  in  school,  and  have  felt 
greatly  interested  in  your  studies. 

I  sometimes  ask  boys  and  girls,  What  are  you  going  to  do  when 
you  grow  up  ?  I  find  you  have  plans.  Some  expect  to  be  teach- 
ers ;  some,  good  farmers  and  housekeepers ;  some,  mechanics 
and  merchants ;  some,  ministers,  physicians,  or  lawyers.  I  saw 
one  boy  the  other  day  who  said  he  was  going  to  be  a  stage- 
driver.  I  think  it  is  a  good  thing  to  have  plans.  A  boy  or  a  girl 
that  has  no  plans  will  not  do  much  in  the  world.  I  am  glad  to  see 
you  plan  to  have  good  lessons,  to  be  good  in  school,  to  be  always 
kind,  never  to  tell  a  lie  or  swear,  to  be  good  to  everybody,  to  study 
and  read  at  home,  and  never  miss  a  Sabbath  at  Sunday-school. 
Some  children  and  some  men  never  have  plans :  they  float  idly 
about  all  their  lives,  like  a  vessel  on  the  ocean  that  is  not  going 
anywhere. 

I  have  often  thought  what  one  plan  did  for  me.  I  forget  how  it 
happened ;  but  I  made  a  plan,  when  a  boy,  never  to  sit  down  at 
home  without  a  book  or  paper  in  my  hand.  I  found  a  History  of 
the  United  States,  which  I  read  through,  and  then  a  History 
of  Greece  and  of  Rome,  and  father  took  the  New  York  Tribune. 
It  was  pretty  dry  sometimes  ;  and  I  worked  so  hard  on  the  dear 
old  farm  that  I  could  hardly  hold  my  head  up.  But  my  plan 
helped  me  through;  and  I  learned  about  this  country  and  all  the 
countries  in  the  world,  which  is  a  great  help  to  me  now.  How 
well  I  remember  the  table  in  the  loved  home,  that  was  brought  out 
every  night  with  the  light  on  it,  around  which  we  children  used  to 
read  and  study !  Plan  to  read  those  books  which  will  do  you  the 
most  good.  I  expect  some  of  you  are  making  plans  to  go  away  to 
school  and  to  college  some  time.  I  like  that.  I  never  knew  how 
to  enjoy  my  home  fully  till  I  came  home  in  vacation ;  and  I  never 
liked  work  so  well  as  after  studying  hard  away  at  school. 

Now,  I  want  you  to  make  one  more  plan  that  will  help  you  more 
than  all  the  rest.  I  want  you  to  plan  to  be  Christians.  I  made 
this  plan  when  a  boy,  and  I  am  so  happy  that  I  have  lived  to 
carry  it  out. 

December,  1873. 


44  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

II. 

HABITS. 

Dear  Childi-eti^ —  Can  you  tell  me  what  a  habit  is  ?  I  think  this 
definition  will  suit  you :  it  is  the  effect  of  doing  again  and  again 
the  sa7ne  thing. 

Habits  become  stronger  every  time  the  act  is  repeated,  till  at 
length  a  character  is  formed ;  for  a  good  definition  of  character  is 
the  sum  of  all  our  habits.  So,  if  I  want  to  know  your  character, 
all  I  have  to  do  is  to  add  your  habits  together,  and  I  can  tell  what 
kind  of  men  and  women  you  are  to  be. 

A  boy  forms  a  habit  of  swearing.  That  habit  will  get  stronger 
every  time  he  repeats  it,  until  he  will  swear  without  knowing  it ; 
and  he  will  be  led  into  bad  company,  and  be  ruined  at  last,  be- 
cause he  formed  a  bad  habit  when  a  boy.  There  is  a  boy  or  a  girl 
that  begins  to  tell  little  white  lies  at  home  or  at  school.  They 
look  so  small  that  you  think  little  of  them.  But  they  are  the 
harmless  tg^  of  the  serpent,  which  will  hatch  out  the  deadly  adder 
to  poison  your  life,  and  drive  away  from  you  the  beautiful  angel  of 
truth.  I  see  small  boys  forming  a  habit  of  chewing  tobacco  or 
smoking  cigars.  I  think  what  an  evil  practice  they  are  pinning 
to  their  lives,  how  much  money  they  will  waste  that  might  be 
employed  in  doing  good.  I  see  other  boys  taking  a  glass  of  beer. 
They  say,  "This  is  nothing:  just  beer."  Poor  boys,  I  could  weep 
for  you !  I  see  such  sorrow,  wretchedness,  and  misery  in  the 
future.  Oh,  that  terrible  habit!  How  gently  it  begins!  How 
harmless  at  first !  I  see  others  who  have  a  habit  of  breaking  the 
Sabbath.  When  Sunday  comes,  they  are  restless,  and  go  loafing 
and  lounging.  Many  men  in  the  State  prison  to-day  say  they 
began  a  life  of  wickedness  by  Sabbath-breaking. 

Some  boys  and  girls  form  the  habit  of  being  kind  and  pleasant 
to  every  one ;  and  it  comes  easy  when  they  grow  up.  Others  are 
cross  and  unkind,  and  form  a  habit  of  scolding  and  fretting ;  and 
they  have  trouble  with  this  habit  all  their  lives. 

Some  parents  give  their  children  a  calf  or  lamb  or  other  prop- 
erty, and  tell  them  they  can  get  rich,  and  have   many  things. 


Bad  and  Good  Habits.  45 

These  children  grow  up  with  this  thought:  they  live  for  them- 
selves alone,  and  think  of  nothing  else.  They  will  not  give  for 
the  Sunday-school  or  for  any  good  cause ;  but  their  hearts  be- 
come smaller  and  smaller  as  they  love  money  more  than  Christ, 
and  at  last  they  become  misers.  When  I  came  through  Kansas 
last  summer,  on  my  way  from  Colorado,  I  spent  my  Sabbath  with 
a  college  professor.  I  went  out  to  his  garden,  which  was  all  eaten 
up  by  the  grasshoppers,  and  his  little  boys  showed  me  two  rows 
of  sweet  potatoes  they  had  planted,  which  they  were  going  to  dig 
and  sell,  and  send  the  money  to  missionaries  to  the  heathen.  But 
the  grasshoppers  had  completely  ruined  them ;  and,  as  the  boys 
and  the  father  looked  upon  the  rows  for  the  heathen  children,  they 
seemed  to  feel  worse  about  them  than  for  the  rest  of  the  garden. 
Those  boys  were  forming  habits  of  working  for  others,  which  will 
make  them  like  Jesus. 

I  must  tell  you  a  story  I  heard  the  other  day :  Two  boys, 
James  and  John,  formed  the  habit  of  reading  about  the  heathen, 
and  giving  money  to  help  save  them.  When  they  grew  up  to  be 
almost  men,  John  said :  "  Somebody  must  go  to  tell  the  heathen 
about  Jesus.  Ought  not  we  to  go  ? "  James  said,  "  We  have  to 
work  on  the  farm,  and  take  care  of  father  and  mother,  who  are 
growing  old ;  and  we  have  not  money  to  go  to  college  and  become 
missionaries."  John  said,  "  That  is  so."  But  a  great  and  noble 
thought  came  to  James.  "  I  have  it,"  he  said :  "  I  will  stay  at  home 
and  work  hard,  and  take  care  of  father  and  mother,  and  earn 
money  enough  to  send  you  to  college,  and  then  to  the  heathen." 
"  I  will  go,"  said  John.  So  he  went  to  college  and  studied  hard, 
and  James  stayed  at  home  and  worked,  and  saved  all  he  could,  and 
father  and  mother  helped,  too;  and  John  went  through  college, 
and  then  far  across  the  ocean  to  the  heathen,  and  James  supported 
him  all  the  way.  Now,  which  do  you  think  was  the  missionary, 
James  or  John?  "Both  of  them,"  you  say.  That  is  so;  and 
father  and  mother,  too.  I  love  to  think  what  a  happy  family  they 
were  in  the  dear  home,  as  they  read  John's  letters  about  the 
heathen,  and  felt  they  were  all  helping.  Yes ;  and,  when  they  get 
to  heaven,   I    think   they  will   be   happy  to  meet  John  and  the 


46  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

heathen  he  has  brought  with  him.  Will  not  Jesus  join  that  circle, 
as  they  tell  how  they  labored  and  prayed  and  sacrificed  for  him  on 
earth,  and  tried  to  walk  in  his  steps  ?  Will  it  not  be  worth  more 
than  all  the  selfish  pleasure  they  could  have  had  in  this  world,  to 
hear  him  say,  "  Well  done  "  ? 

Now,  boys  and  girls,  I  want  you  to  form  habits  of  reading  about 
missionaries  and  helping  their  work.  That  will  make  you  mis- 
sionaries. Some  of  you  will  go,  and  some  will  stay  and  work  hard 
to  support  the  rest.  Yes,  James  and  John  and  Charley,  all  of  you ; 
and  the  girls,  too,  Lizzie  and  Jennie  and  Mary, —  it  would  take  a 
great  deal  of  paper  to  call  all  your  names, —  we  want  you  to 
form  these  habits  of  being  like  Jesus,  and  doing  good.  I  know 
that  the  best  thing  we  can  do  is  to  try  and  help  this  world  to  be 
better.  Do  you  find  it  hard  sometimes  to  be  good  ?  Yes,  Jesus 
knew  you  would,  and  came  from  heaven  on  purpose  to  help  us. 
Let  me  tell  you  of  one  more  habit  which  will  be  a  great  blessing 
to  you, —  the  habit  of  coming  to  Jesus  every  day  in  prayer,  and  of 
feeling  that  your  life  is  united  with  his.  This  will  be  worth  more 
than  all  the  world. 

January,  1875. 

in. 

EVERY   CHILD   TO   DO  HIS   DUTY.  —  MIND,  MORALS,  AND   RELIGION 
TO   BE   CULTIVATED. 

Dear  Children, —  One  hundred  years  since,  our  fathers  fought 
to  make  us  free  and  happy,  marking  with  blood  from  their  bare 
feet  the  frozen  ground  on  which  they  marched,  because  the  nation 
was  too  poor  to  buy  a  few  thousand  pairs  of  shoes.  We  shall  not 
forget  them ;  and  we  shall  often  ask.  What  can  I  do  to  make  the 
nation  still  greater  and  better  ? 

I  find  that  every  one  who  does  good  in  the  world  asks  that 
question.  Well-doing  does  not  come,  like  wild  fruit,  without  cul- 
tivation. It  takes  resolution  and  perseverance  to  be  good  and  to 
do  good.  When  the  gallant  Nelson  fought  the  great  naval  battle 
with  France,  he  hung  up  at  the  mast-head  of  his  flag-ship  the 


Motto  for  a  Child.  ,47 

words,  "  England  expects  every  man  to  do  his  duty."  Those 
words  may  have  gained  for  England  that  victory.  So,  my  young 
friends,  I  think  the  best  thing  for  you  to  do  is  to  hang  up  over  the 
unwritten  page  of  this  year  this  motto  :  "  God  expects  every  boy 
and  girl  to  do  their  duty." 

You  do  not  want  this  year  covered  with  blots  ;  and  it  will  be,  if 
you  do  not  try  to  prevent  it.  A  hard  fight  we  all  have  with  wrong 
and  temptation ;  and  we  shall  have  to  look  at  the  flag-ship  a  good 
many  times,  if  we  are  not  overcome.  You  want  a  great  deal  of 
pleasure  this  year,  and  that  you  cannot  have,  unless  you  are  a  hard 
worker.  Then,  when  you  have  a  play-day,  you  will  enjoy  it,  but 
not  without.     The  idler  can  never  be  happy. 

I  will  say  a  few  things  to  put  on  your  fingers  to  remember. 
I.  Your  minds  imist  be  ciiltivated.  This  is  what  you  are  in 
school  for.  But  only  a  few  persons  have  cultivated  minds.  It  is 
only  the  thinkers  and  those  who  love  to  think  hard  that  are  bene- 
fited. I  can  tell  the  hard  thinkers.  They  read  useful  books  and 
papers,  and  talk  about  what  they  read,  and  think  of  it  when  by 
themselves,  and  plan  to  make  study  useful. 

You  have  a  good  religious  paper  for  family  reading,  and  a  chil- 
dren's paper  for  the  smaller  ones.  What  a  blessing  this  is  in 
your  home !  Talk  with  father  and  mother  about  what  you  read. 
It  will  do  them  good.  It  will  do  you  good.  When  you  find  what 
you  think  will  do  you  good,  treasure  it  up,  or  have  a  book  to 
write  it  in.  I  was  looking  over  my  old  blank-books  the  other 
day,  where  I  wrote  many  years  ago  things  worth  remembering. 

2.  Here  is  for  your  second  finger.  Yotir  morals  must  be  culti- 
vated. We  all  have  a  work  in  this  direction.  I  saw  one  of  the 
best  girls  in  this  State  crying  as  if  her  heart  would  break.  She 
threw  her  arms  around  an  elder  sister's  neck,  and  whispered. 
After  she  had  gone  away,  I  asked  the  elder  sister  what  she  said. 
The  reply  was,  "  It  is  so  hard  to  be  good."  I  thought,  if  that  girl 
finds  it  hard  to  be  good,  what  will  become  of  the  rest  of  us  1  I 
saw  that  she  had  become  good  by  hard  trying  every  day. 

Look  at  that  boy  who  swears.  I  feel  sorry  for  him,  and  I 
always  speak  to  him  about  it.     He  sometimes  laughs,  and  runs 


48  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

off.  But,  if  every  one  would  make  that  rule,  there  would  be  less 
swearing.  Then,  there  is  the  boy  or  girl  that  tells  lies.  I  feel 
sorry  for  them,  too.  They  go  to  school  to  get  good,  and  destroy 
it  by  this  bad  habit.  Let  this  be  a  year  of  truthfulness.  The  boy 
that  uses  tobacco,  I  feel  sorry  for.  He  smokes  cigars,  and  burns 
away  in  a  few  days  enough  to  buy  him  a  good  book  or  a  paper  for 
the  family.  •  I  have  been  expecting  to  see  this  habit  broken  up  ; 
but  its  practice,  after  physicians  and  educators  tell  us  it  is  inju- 
rious, shows  how  weak  moral  principle  is  in  our  young  men.  My 
young  friends,  this  is  a  good  year  to  begin  with  firmness  as  to 
these  poisons  to  soul  and  body. 

3.  Here  I  have  a  beautiful,  sparkling  ring  for  your  third  finger. 
I  hope  you  will  wear  it  all  the  year  :  yes,  and  you  may  keep  it  on 
always.  It  will  not  break  nor  wear  out.  Resolve  this  year  to  be 
a  bright^  happy ^  and  useftil  Christiati.  This  precious  privilege  is 
worth  all  else.  You  and  I  can  never  thank  God  enough  for  the 
gift  of  his  Son,  to  wash  away  every  thing  dark  and  bad  from  our 
hearts,  and  give  us  every  thing  bright  and  good.  We  do  not  think 
of  this  enough.  You  must  ask  somebody  to  tell  you  the  story  of 
Joseph  Neesima,  the  Japanese  boy,  who  ran  away  from  home,  that 
he  might  come  to  America  and  learn  about  Jesus,  and  how  God 
led  him,  and  he  became  a  missionary.  It  is  a  grand  story.  They 
call  me  a  home  missionary,  because  I  go  around  among  our 
churches  and  try  to  do  them  good.  But  I  want  to  call  you  a 
home  missionary,  because  you  make  home  bright  and  beautiful 
with  goodness,  and  your  neighbor's  home  happy  with  your  pres- 
ence. Some  of  you  will  become  Christians,  and  unite  with  the 
church  this  year;  so  it  will  be  the  best  year  of  your  life.  So 
wear  this  ring,  and  you  will  have  ornaments  enough. 

Now,  let  me  look  at  your  hand  once  more.  Yes,  I  see.  There 
is  the  first  finger,  which  tells  you  to  care  for  your  mind,  and  the 
second  for  your  morals,  and  the  third  for  the  religion  of  Jesus,  to 
help  all  the  rest.  And  now,  with  one  more  good  look  at  the  flag- 
ship, we  will  go  out  to  the  duties  of  the  year. 

January,  1876. 


Prayer-Triangles.  49 

IV. 

PRAYER-TRIANGLES. —  LIFE   A   COPY-BOOK. 

Dear  Children^ —  Happy  New  Year  to  all !  I  know  you  are 
looking  for  this  greeting,  which  has  come  to  you  for  three  years. 
I  called  the  other  day  at  a  home  in  Western  Iowa,  when  a  little 
girl  ran  to  the  bookcase  and  brought  my  last  year's  paper,  telling 
me  how  much  she  had  enjoyed  my  letter.  How  I  should  like  to 
see  you  all  this  bright  morning  !  But,  next  to  seeing  friends,  is 
writing  to  them.  I  should  like  to  welcome  you  to  my  pleasant 
office  in  Des  Moines.  From  this  quiet  room  has  gone  forth  much 
thought  and  feeling  and  prayer  for  our  beautiful  Iowa,  and  many 
wishes  for  you,  that  you  may  be  noble  and  true,  and  do  great  good 
in  the  world.  Here  I  have  made  a  great  many  prayer-triangles  to 
every  place  where  this  paper  will  go. 

You  ask :  "  What  do  you  mean  ?  Tell  me  what  prayer-triangles 
are."  You  know  a  triangle  is  a  figure  with  three  sides.  One  is 
the  line  of  thought  between  me  and  you;  the  second  is  the 
thought  I  lift  to  God  for  you ;  and  the  third  is  the  blessing  from 
God  to  you.  Along  that  line,  I  have  often  felt  that  some  bless- 
ings were  coming  down.  Yes ;  and,  when  God  sent  the  blessing, 
he  did  not  forget  the  other  line.  He  also  sent  joy  to  me ;  and 
then  the  line  between  us  seemed  to  thrill  so  sweetly. 

Do  you  know  that  along  these  lines  God  sends  almost  all  the 
spiritual  blessings  that  come  to  this  world  ?  Perhaps  no  one  is 
converted  without  some  one  praying  for  him.  Thus  God  works 
through  these  triangles.  Think  how  many  of  them  we  can  make, 
—  for  father  and  mother,  for  brother  and  sister,  for  your  minister 
and  teacher,  for  your  church  and  Sabbath-school,  for  your  town, 
for  our  State  and  country,  for  the  world,  for  our  missionaries, — 
that  the  heathen  may  listen  to  the  story  about  Jesus,  who  loved  us 
and  gave  himself  for  us. 

But  I  must  not  talk  longer  about  this  beautiful  triangle.  I 
wonder  if  you  will  understand  it.  Ah  !  here  comes  from  his  cosey 
bed  my  twelve-year-old  visitor  from  Mount  Pleasant  with  "  A 
happy  New  Year  !  "     He  shall  hear  what  I  have  written.  ...  He 


50  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

says  :  "  I  never  thought  of  that  before.  It  is  beautiful,  papa  ;  and 
the  triangle  is  a  right-angle  triangle^  Yes,  I  see  you  understand 
it,  for  children  have  better  teachers  now  than  the  older  people 
had.  May  we  learn  how  to  use  it  morning  and  evening,  and 
through  the  day  !  Then  life  will  be  happy  and  pure,  and  every 
bitter  fountain  will  be  turned  into  sweetness. 

Not  yet  light !  This  is  an  early  talk ;  but  the  printers  are  wait- 
ing, and  this  letter  must  reach  you  this  week.  How  beautiful  the 
morning !  Not  a  cloud  in  the  sky,  only  the  stars  and  the  moon, 
bright  and  clear.  The  shadows  of  the  naked  trees  lie  about  my 
window  on  the  white  snow,  pure  and  clean  as  the  unwritten  page 
of  the  new  year  upon  which  you  and  I  are  just  beginning  to  write. 

Life  has  been  compared  to  a  copy-book,  neat  and  clean  when 
you  buy  it.  There  is  the  white  paper  with  its  straight  lines,  and 
a  beautiful  copy  at  the  top.  Your  life  and  mine  is  that  copy-book. 
Each  page  is  a  year,  each  line  is  a  day.  The  lines  are  the  laws 
of  right,  and  the  copy  is  Jesus  our  Saviour.  Now  we  all  begin 
to  write.  You  will  have  written  a  few  lines  before  this  reaches 
you.  There  are  two  things  we  will  try  to  do, —  keep  the  line,  and 
write  as  near  like  the  copy  as  we  can.  Write  with  a  steady  hand. 
Lift  up  your  eye  to  the  copy  often.  That  is  the  secret  of  life. 
Now,  let  us  try  to  make  this  our  best  year  on  earth, —  the  year  to 
study  the  hardest,  work  most  faithfully,  speak  kindest  words,  do 
noblest  deeds,  love  the  most.  Look  out !  That  habit  will  bring 
you  below  the  line.     The  line  is  the  Commandment :  — 

"  Thou  Shalt  not." 
"  Remember." 
"  Honor." 

Do  the  lines  of  the  year  seem  many  ?  Soon  they  will  all  be 
written.  But  some  of  us  may  stop  in  the  middle  of  the  page,  and 
in  the  middle  of  the  line,  and  the  rest  will  remain  unwritten  for- 
ever. I  heard  yesterday  that  Mr.  P.  P.  Bliss,  your  sweet  singer, 
had  been  killed  by  a  terrible  railroad  accident.  His  songs  seemed 
sweeter  than  ever,  as  we  thought  of  him  singing  the  songs  of 
heaven.     Shall  we  sing  with  him  "  the  new  song,"  and  with  Jesus, 


*' God  in  Everything.''  51 

our  greater  Leader?     How  many  of  you  will  become  Christians 
this  year,  and  give  your  life  to  doing  good  ? 

Well,  my  letter  is  again  long.  The  morning  sun  is  throwing  his 
first  rays  over  the  grand  walls  of  the  new  Capitol,  and  I  will  throw 
a  good-by  to  you  all.  Make  the  triangles  j  refitember  the  bright 
page  J  keep  the  line;  look  to  the  copy. 

January,  1877. 

V. 

GOODNESS. 

Dear  Children^ —  I  think  I  have  never  enjoyed  trying  to  do 
good  so  much  as  during  the  past  year.  Is  there  anything  that 
makes  us  so  happy?  How  bright  it  makes  the  world  and  the 
heavens  !  I  have  been  looking  at  the  stars  a  good  deal  lately, —  so 
many  that  we  cannot  count  them,  and  so  far  away  that  we  cannot 
measure  the  distance.  Yet  God  made  all  these ;  and  how  strong 
and  wise  and  good  he  must  be !  I  look  at  the  glow  of  early  morn- 
ing and  the  brightness  of  evening,  and  I  cannot  help  thinking  of 
God  in  everything.  Is  it  not  sweet  to  have  the  thought  of  him  in 
all  we  see  and  hear  and  know?  I  visited  a  home  a  few  days  since. 
A  Httle  friend  said,  "  Our  rose  is  in  blossom  on  purpose  for  you." 
It  was  fragrant  and  beautiful  in  its  rich  purple  dress.  How  could 
I  help  feeling  thankful  to  God  in  my  heart  ? 

When  I  look  upon  your  house-plants,  and  see  the  delicate  ivy 
cHmbing  along  so  carefully,  and  geraniums  of  various  hues,  and 
verbenas  and  pinks  and  fuchsias,  and  how  God  has  made  each 
leaf  and  stalk  and  flower  out  of  the  same  dark  earth,  I  say  in  my 
heart,  Our  God  is  a  wonder-working  God.  Yes ;  and  next  spring 
we  shall  walk  out  into  God's  great  world-house,  and  see  what  he 
has  made  there.  Every  leaf  and  flower,  every  tree  and  blade  of 
grass,  speak  of  his  goodness  and  love.  I  have  scarcely  ever 
walked  in  the  beautiful  woods  alone,  since  a  boy,  without  kneeling 
down  to  thank  God  for  all  his  goodness.  The  woods,  the  groves 
about  your  house,  seem  like  God's  church  that  he  built  for  us  to 
worship  in.  I  love  to  enter  them  and  listen  to  the  winds  murmur- 
ing through  the  leaves.    It  seems  like  God's  great  organ,  sounding 


52  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

sweetly  of  his  love.     I  do  not  wonder  that  all  Israel,  when  they 
came  up  to  their  beautiful  temple,  used  to  chant  in  a  great  chorus : 

"  Oh,  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord : 
For  he  is  good ;  his  mercy  endureth  forever." 

I  think  we  shall  all  say,  I  had  rather  have  a  thankful  heart  than 
everything  else  in  this  world. 

I  got  a  letter  from  the  deacon  of  a  church  last  week.  He  said, 
"  We  have  no  pastor,  and  we  want  you  to  come  and  receive  a  num- 
ber of  our  children  into  the  church. *'  That  made  me  feel  very 
happy, —  to  think  the  children  were  finding  Jesus,  even  without  a 
pastor.  Yes,  Jesus  is  not  hard  to  find,  when  we  seek  him  with  the 
whole  heart.  We  shall  all  find  it  the  happiest  life  to  take  him 
as  our  Saviour,  and  do  good  and  be  useful. 

With  much  love,  I  remain  your  friend, 

J.  W.  Pickett. 

January,  1878. 


THE  PAST,  PRESENT,  AND  FUTURE  OF  IOWA. 

It  is  now  forty  years  since  the  first  settlement  was  made  (June  i, 
1833).  Our  development  for  a  time  was  slow.  Indian  titles  were 
but  just  extinguished;  the  vast,  untrodden  prairies  were  shunned 
by  settlers  of  the  well-wooded  East ;  the  early  inhabitants  clung 
to  the  timbered  watercourses  and  patches  of  woodland.  They 
little  dreamed  of  the  throbbing  life  soon  to  sweep  over  those 
solitudes. 

Within  a  few  years,  all  is  changed.  Trade,  with  its  swift  in- 
stincts, has  found  highways  through  these  fertile  prairies  for 
spanning  the  continent,  and  bears  to  us  the  wealth  and  population 
of  the  nations.  From  Germany,  Scandinavia,  England,  and  all 
parts  of  our  country,  an  increasing  tide  is  sweeping  in  upon  us. 

In  the  southern  half  of  the  State,  more  than  one  hundred 
churches  of  our  faith  and  order  have  been  planted.  What  is  to 
be  their  future,  and  their  influence  upon  the  future  of  the  State, 


A  Christian  State.  53 

of  Christianity,  and  of  the  world  ?  If  we  have  not  misappre- 
hended, there  is  with  many  something  of  the  purpose  that  actuated 
the  Pilgrim  Fathers, —  to  plant  institutions  and  a  Christian  State 
which  shall  reflect  more  perfectly  the  image  of  Christ.  They  feel 
that  the  highest  work  of  life  is  to  develop  a  Christian  civilization, 
and  give  themselves,  their  property,  and  their  all  for  the  moral 
regeneration  of  the  world.  It  may  require  a  vision  like  that  of 
Abraham  to  span  the  coming  centuries,  but  God  will  give  it  to 
them  that  ask  him. 

There  is  a  grand  and  an  almost  awful  meaning  in  the  fact  that 
this  beautiful  and  fertile  section  of  the  world  was  left  unoccupied 
by  civilized  man  through  the  ages,  and  is  thrown  open  for  us  to 
occupy  at  such  a  time  as  this.  Why  were  all  its  secret  treasures 
hidden  from  the  cupidity  of  the  nations,  now  to  be  flung  open  to 
all  people  in  this  period  of  the  world's  grandest  possibilities  ? 

Our  State  is  passing  to  a  period  of  responsible  manhood.  We 
take  our  position  in  the  world  for  good  or  evil.  It  is  a  critical 
period  with  a  State,  as  with  an  individual,  when  its  life  comes  in 
contact  with  the  world.  That  is  our  position  to-day.  As  Chris- 
tians, we  must  not  become  absorbed  in  farms,  shops,  and  house- 
hold cares,  when  the  world's  mighty  voices  are  ringing  in  our 
ears.  We  must  feel  that  these  things  are  but  means  to  ends. 
We  must  stand  on  the  watch-tower  of  consecration  and  service, 
and  ask,  "What  wilt  thou  have  me  to  do?"  It  is  possible  that 
we  have  been  called  to  lay  the  foundations  of  a  higher  type  of 
piety  than  the  world  now  enjoys,  to  cultivate  a  truer  Christian 
simplicity  in  thought  and  manner  of  living,  to  develop  wealth  for 
the  grand  consummation  of  the  world's  conversion.  If  so,  what 
joy  and  peace  will  come  to  us  with  this  object  ever  in  view !  How 
pleasant  sacrifice  will  become,  as  this  mission  opens  with  widen- 
ing prospect !  How  our  children's  hearts  will  thrill  with  these 
conceptions,  and  what  enduring  legacies  will  we  leave  them  in 
thoughts  of  sacrifice  for  others,  and  of  fidelity  to  God,  while 
worldly  fortunes  shrivel  in  financial  disaster ! 

December,  1873. 


54  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W,  Pickett. 

WEAKNESS  IN  CHURCHES. 

1.  A  church  may  shrink  from  the  sacrifice  demanded  in  provid- 
ing a  suitable  place  of  worship;  or  the  house  may  be  partially 
completed,  with  a  heavy  debt,  and  no  strenuous  efforts  to  cancel 
it :  or  it  may  be  unfit  for  worship  by  negligence.  Sometimes  a 
week's  labor  of  the  pastor  is  lost  by  failure  of  the  sexton  to  build 
a  fire  in  season,  or  from  having  no  sexton,  and  leaving  the  first 
comer  to  do  the  work,  amid  shivering  children  and  anxious  par- 
ents ;  or  an  old  stove  and  uncleaned  pipe  or  chimney  fills  the 
house  with  smoke,  so  that  the  service  becomes  an  agony,  and  the 
worshipper  rushes  from  his  place  of  confinement,  performing  at 
least  one  act  of  devotion  as  he  thanks  God  for  the  pure  air  and 
clear  sky.  Are  these  small  things  ?  But  such  things  give  success 
or  failure. 

2.  The  pastor's  salary  may  be  unpaid  when  due.  Churches 
guilty  of  this  cannot  realize  the  anxiety  and  injury  produced  by 
this  neglect.  You  have  secured  a  pastor,  and  promised  to  pay 
him  each  quarter.  The  term  expires.  The  church  of  the  cove- 
nant-keeping God  has  broken  its  promise.  The  pastor  is  in  want. 
But  often  less  endurable  than  want  and  suffering  is  the  thought 
that  the  church  is  indifferent  to  its  pledges,  and  not  in  sympathy 
with  its  pastor.  Dear  brother,  would  you  strengthen  your  church, 
see  that  on  the  day  your  pastor's  salary  is  due  it  is  paid,  every 
cent.  The  Israelite  was  blessed  in  giving  to  God  the  first-fruits 
of  his  increase.  He  was  not  to  taste  of  bread  or  parched  corn  or 
green  ears  till  he  had  brought  an  offering  to  God. 

But  we  cannot  meet  this  obligation,  you  say.  The  words  can 
and  cannot  will  change  their  meaning  before  the  millennium.  A 
follower  of  Christ  can  do  some  things,  if  necessity  requires.  He 
can  give  up  tobacco,  tea,  coffee,  sugar;  he  can  do  without  car- 
pets ;  he  can  dispense  with  many  comforts  which  it  is  pleasant  to 
have.  But  he  cannot  afford  to  break  one  pledge  that  he  makes  for 
Christ's  kingdom.  Do  you  desire  to  strengthen  your  pastor  in  his 
sermons,  to  cheer  him  in  the  closet,  to  sweeten  his  visitations  from 
house  to  house,  to  give  efficiency  to  all  his  labors?  Keep  your 
pledges  of  support  to  the  letter.     Better  walk  through  the  worst 


The  Chti^rch  an  embodied  Conscience.  55 

Iowa  mud  five  miles  to  church  meeting  than  violate  a  pledge  one 
hour.  Let  the  church  be  an  embodied  conscience,  and  in  its  busi- 
ness teach  the  world  the  beauty  and  power  of  truth  and  personal 
integrity. 

3.  Look  into  the  prayer-meeting.  How  many  of  the  members 
are  present,  and  who  are  they?  If  the  good  deacons  and  Sun- 
day-school workers  feel  the  necessity  of  the  place  of  prayer  to 
renew  their  strength,  how  must  the  case  stand  with  you  who  are 
not  active  in  Christian  work,  and  are  covered  with  the  dust  of 
business  and  worldly  care?  Why  are  you  not  there?  Are  you 
detained  by  business,  pleasure,  weariness,  or  other  engagements  ? 
May  not  these  excuses  dishonor  Christ? 

The  same  inquiries  might  be  made  respecting  Sunday-school 
work,  and  the  extra  meetings  of  the  church,  often  necessary  for 
its  spiritual  growth.  It  may  be  found  that  weakness  has  come 
through  neglect  in  these,  which  you  have  thought  small,  matters. 

4.  We  mention  one  more  cause  of  weakness, —  discord  among 
brethren.  We  cannot  express  our  anguish  as  we  have  seen  Christ 
thus  wounded  in  the  house  of  his  friends.  There  are  churches 
dismantled,  houses  of  worship  falling  to  decay,  their  tottering 
spires  pointing  to  heaven  in  silent  protest  against  the  spirit  of 
strife  which  has  eaten  like  a  cancer.  But  the  blame  is  with  the 
other  party.  Yes,  we  know  that.  We  also  feel  sure  that,  if  you 
realized  the  crime  you  are  committing  against  religion,  against  the 
Saviour  who  died,  yea,  against  your  own  soul,  you  would  never 
leave  your  closet  till  these  divisions  are  melted  in  the  crucible 
of  love.  Persons  think  so  differently  that  I  have  resolved,  for  the 
sake  of  peace,  to  go  three-fourths-  of  the  way ;  for,  if  each  is  only 
willing  to  go  half-way,  neither  will  come  quite  to  the  line,  and  their 
hands  will  not  touch. 

December,  1873. 


PROVIDE  THINGS  HONEST. 

One  hindrance  to  the  growth  of  our  churches  is  the  laxness  in 
business  habits  of  a  portion  of  the  members.     They  cannot  enter 


56  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

upon  systematic  beneficence,  because  they  have  nothing  to  lay  by 
in  store  on  the  first  day  of  the  week,  though  having  means  of 
acquiring  wealth  such  as  the  world  never  before  furnished.  They 
incur  debts  on  every  hand, —  store-bills,  grocer's,  butcher's.  They 
have  nothing  to  pay  till  their  crops  come  in,  and  then  their  lump 
is  devoured  by  half-famished  creditors  in  a  moment.  In  these 
wasteful  methods,  their  word  is  forgotten,  promises  are  straws, 
broken  at  a  touch,  and  men's  consciences  are  debauched.  Our 
ministers  suffer  perplexity  and  embarrassment  from  these  unchris- 
tian ways.  Men  belonging  to  the  church  have  given  their  prom- 
ises, and  then  with  those  promises  broken  look  their  minister  in 
the  face  for  a  whole  hour  every  Sunday  morning  without  wincing. 
Do  we  wonder  that  churches  remain  unblest,  with  this  hardening 
process  going  on  ? 

You  ask  :  "  What  shall  we  do  ?  We  are  in  debt,  and  likely  to 
be  for  some  time."  Call  a  solemn  family  council.  Let  husband, 
wife,  and  children  concur  that  the  first  work  is  to  free  yourselves 
from  debt,  from  this  bondage  of  corruption.  Deny  yourselves 
every  luxury ;  live  with  strict  economy ;  give  up  every  bad  or 
expensive  habit.  Do  not  ask  what  you  need,  but  what  you  can  do 
without,  and  let  this  decide  every  purchase  till  you  are  2ifree  man. 
Then  pay  as  you  go,  value  for  value.  And  banish  what  the  world 
calls  high  life,  the  idea  of  rivalling  your  neighbor  in  dress  or 
equipage.  It  is  a  snare  and  delusion,  that  ends  in  mortification. 
A  man  who  conscientiously  starts  out  with  the  resolve  to  keep 
every  promise  will  be  helped  of  God  to  do  so. 

1875. 


DENOMINATIONAL  COMITY. 

The  world  is  moving  in  the  line  of  Christian  Brotherhood. 
Various  denominations  are  realizing  that  they  are  not  antagonistic 
elements,  to  rejoice  over  each  other's  discomfiture,  but  one  body 
in  Christ,  and  members  one  of  another.     In  the  midst  of  these 


Christian  Brotherhood.  57 

signs  of  promise,  tlie  condition  of  churches  in  small  towns  is 
attracting  attention,  and  Christians  are  beginning  to  wonder  why 
a  half  dozen  weak  and  sickly  churches  have  been  planted  where 
one  or  two  could  accomplish  the  work  better,  and  relieve  ministers 
and  means  for  regions  beyond.  A  feeble,  inefficient  church  does 
not  commend  religion  to  the  world,  nor  honor  God,  nor  inspire 
satisfaction  and  peace  in  his  service.  It  is  believed  that  our  small 
churches  in  this  State  are  cultivating  a  spirit  of  brotherly  love 
toward  all  Christians,  and  are  ready  to  engage  in  any  union  work 
which  will  advance  the  cause  of  Christ.  We  say  to  them.  You 
have  been  receiving  missionary  money  for  years,  and  naturally  ask 
what  should  be  done  as  to  organic  union  with  other  denomina- 
tions. It  is  doubtless  your  duty  to  inquire  whether  you  have  a 
special  w^ork  to  do  in  your  community,  which  on  the  whole  will 
honor  Christ  in  the  way  you  are  doing  it  more  than  in  any  other. 
The  time  is  at  hand  when  the  church  that  has  no  mission  should 
yield  to  one  that  has.  If  you  cannot  be  hot  in  the  pursuit  of 
righteousness  and  in  saving  the  perishing,  the  Saviour  has  told  us 
it  were  better  to  be  cold.  This  ought  to  settle  the  matter  of  life 
or  death.  If  you  are  not  willing  to  make  sacrifices,  if  no  souls  are 
saved,  if  there  is  general  apathy,  unless  this  can  speedily  change, 
we  cannot  see  as  Christ  gives  you  a  right  to  live. 

On  the  other  hand,  if  there  are  a  few  earnest  believers  who  feel 
after  prayerful  investigation  that  they  can  advance  the  cause  of 
Christ  more  rapidly  by  uniting  with  some  other  Christian  body,  it 
is  their  duty  to  do  so.  We  are  not  afraid  to  give  such  advice ;  for 
the  denomination  that  most  honors  Christ,  and  will  permit  nothing 
to  stand  between  him  and  a  perishing  world,  will  be  most  honored 
of  him. 

January,  1875. 


CONGREGATIONAL  ORDER  ADAPTED  TO   UNITE   NEW 
COMMUNITIES. 

Four  churches  were  organized  in  1875  '•  at  Mount  Hope,  Davis 
County,  with  twenty  members ;  Pilgrim  Church  in  Union  County, 


58  Memoirs  of  yoseph   W.  Pickett. 

with  eighteen ;  at  Farragut,  with  thirty-five ;  and  Warren  Town- 
ship, with  thirty.  Those  familiar  with  the  number  usually  uniting 
in  the  formation  of  a  church  will  be  surprised  to  see  so  many 
coming  into  one  organization  in  these  places.  This  is  the  reali- 
zation of  a  hope  long  entertained,  that  it  would  in  time  be  seen 
that  Congregational  churches  possess  facilities  for  uniting  all  the 
Christian  element  of  our  small  towns,  which  are  not  possessed  by 
any  other  body. 

The  organization  of  these  churches,  and  of  many  others  in 
Southern  Iowa,  within  the  past  few  years,  on  a  union  basis,  is  a 
proof  that  these  hopes  are  not  delusive.  These  churches  were 
organized  by  the  union  of  Christians  of  some  six  different  denomi- 
nations, who  saw  the  gain  that  must  accrue  by  joining  forces  for 
the  support  of  a  regular  pastor,  instead  of  having  only  scattering, 
occasional  preaching.  It  is  believed  that,  where  there  is  no  inter- 
ference by  ministers  of  any  denomination,  Christians  will  thus 
come  together  as  naturally  as  drops  of  water.  This  opinion  is 
demonstrated  by  facts  every  year. 

The  Congregational  polity  is  adapted  above  all  others  to  our 
incoming  population.  No  denomination  has  such  facilities  for 
planting  the  gospel  in  new  communities  as  a  Congregational 
Church.  We  believe  that  the  Saviour  committed  all  power  to 
the  local  church,  and  hesitate  to  delegate  this  trust  to  any  other 
body.  A  disregard  of  this  principle  opened  the  way  for  that 
abuse  of  power  which  has  darkened  the  annals  of  the  Church 
from  the  fourth  century.  We  have  a  standard  of  equal  rights 
and  of  Christian  belief,  upon  which  all  Christians  can  unite 
without  compromising  any  fundamental  principle. 

Brethren  of  other  ecclesiastical'  systems  say :  "  We  can  find  no 
fault  with  you,  as  far  as  you  go.  We  confess  that  your  churches 
have  possessed  great  power  in  moulding  the  educational,  civil, 
and  religious  institutions  of  our  country,  and  that  they  harmo- 
nize with  liberty."  Others  say,  "  If  I  had  a  church  of  my  own,  I 
should  prefer  it ;  but  I  see  no  reasons  why,  in  such  a  community 
as  this,  I  should  separate  myself  from  you,  because  we  differ 
respecting  an  external  ordinance."     Now,  is  this  practical  com- 


The  Congregatio7tal  Polity.  59 

mon-sense  or  not?     Is  this  view  of  religion  to  gain  or  to  lose 
ground  ? 

The  whole  Christian  community  in  the  thriving  young  town  of 
Farragut  came  together  in  the  recent  organization,  without  consul- 
tation with  any  minister,  refusing  to  be  pulled  to  pieces  by  con- 
flicting denominational  interests.  All  came  together  as  one  in 
Christ,  to  regulate  their  own  affairs,  choose  and  support  their 
minister,  and  build  their  house  of  worship.  But  trials  await 
them.  Zealous  ministers  of  various  denominations  may  leave  the 
fields  where  souls  are  perishing,  and  pry  out  a  stone  here  and 
there  from  this  temple  to  form  little  organizations,  where  mis- 
sionary money  can  be  bestowed,  and  the  steady  work  of  a  settled 
pastor  be  exchanged  for  scattered  visits  and  precarious  labors  by 
those  who  cannot  prosecute  a  course  of  Christian  teaching  and 
pastoral  supervision,  such  as  made  the  homes  of  New  England 
centres  of  the  best  influences  that  have  swayed  the  minds  of  men. 
1876. 


CONGREGATIONAL  ORDER  AND  SECTARIANISM. 

If  any  Christians  should  have  exalted  views  of  the  Church,  it 
is  the  Congregational  body.  A  fear  is  expressed  by  some  of  the 
New  England  fathers  that  we  are  becoming  sectarian  as  a  denom- 
ination. We  who  have  passed  among  the  Congregational  churches 
of  the  West  know  that  this  is  not  the  case.  Our  poHty,  our  broad, 
evangelical  faith,  are  necessarily  undenominational.  But  there 
is  a  settled  and  strengthening  determination  to  maintain  our 
churches  as  an  antidote  against  sectarian  zeal  and  denominational 
aggrandizement.  Shall  we,  when  sectarian  strife  wages  around 
our  unwalled  Zion,  yield  to  the  raging  elements,  and  withdraw  t 
This  would  be  a  magnanimity  second  only  to  that  which  refused 
to  plant  our  churches  at  all.  No  :  where  intense  sectarianism  de- 
velops itself,  there  the  cause  of  Christ  demands  of  us  a  firm  and 
determined  stand.     With  our  evangelical  faith  as  broad  and  a 


6o  Memoirs  of  Joseph    W.  Pickett. 

polity  as  simple  as  the  gospel,  we  are  to  stretch  our  hands  across 
denominational  barriers,  and  plead  for  harmony  and  fellowship. 
We  have  no  "  ism  "  to  maintain,  but  a  broad  catholicity.  We  are 
linked  to  no  ponderous  courts  of  judicature,  which  may  drag  us 
from  our  gospel  moorings.  We  have  no  Babel  of  ecclesiasticism 
that  we  are  bound  to  rear  to  the  heavens.  I  have  yet  to  find  the 
first  Congregational  Church  in  Iowa  that  is  not  known  for  liber- 
ality toward  all  Christians,  and  willingness  to  co-operate  in  every 
good  work.  Nothing  but  a  pure  love  for  souls  can  win  the  better 
class  of  our  communities  to  Christ.  We  have  yet  to  show  that 
the  local  church  as  an  organism  born  of  God,  complete  in  itself, 
looking  to  Jesus  as  its  Head  and  to  the  Word  of  God  as  its  rule, 
moving  freely  under  the  guidance  of  the  Spirit,  and  drawing  and 
assimilating  all  that  is  capable  of  being  used  in  the  spiritual 
temple,  is  the  mightiest  power  for  the  moral  rectification  of  the 
world.  This  faith,  and  courage  to  assert  it,  is  all  that  is  needed  to 
organize  victory.  This  will  find  important  work  to  be  done  in  the 
vicinity  of  every  church,  will  give  a  hundred  hands  to  do  it,  and 
will  thus  plant  the  germ  of  many  future  churches.  When  pastors 
and  churches  plan  their  work  along  every  line  of  Christian  activ- 
ity, and  the  entire  membership  resolve  to  carry  out  those  plans, 
then  the  golden  age  of  Christianity  will  have  dawned. 


TO  HIS  MOTHER,  ON  HIS  FORTY-FOURTH  BIRTHDAY. 

The  morning  is  beginning  to  dawn  as  I  sit  in  the  quiet  of  my 
pleasant  room  to  meditate  on  the  past.  I  have  just  awakened 
from  a  pleasant  dream  of  the  olden  time.  I  was  in  the  old  sugar- 
camp,  kindling  the  morning  fire ;  and  I  awoke  to  contemplate  the 
rolling  years  and  the  changes  time  has  wrought.  I  am  forty-four, 
and  must  face  the  fact  that  a  good  share  of  life  is  gone.  I  can 
say  that  goodness  and  mercy  have  followed  me  all  my  days. 
Through  the  good  hand  of  my  God  upon  me,  there  has  been  no 


To  his  Mother,  6i 

disappointment  in  my  life-work.  He  has  made  my  ways  to  pros- 
per. With  my  staff,  I  crossed  this  Jordan  into  this  wild  but  beau- 
tiful land,  and  he  has  made  me  two  bands.  My  Rachel  is  buried 
in  the  land  of  my  pilgrimage ;  but  the  son  of  my  right  hand  God 
has  watched  over,  and  made  him  a  comfort  to  me.  He  shall  not 
be  called  Benoni. 

My  one  thought  and  desire  is  to  abide  under  the  shadow  of  the 
Almighty,  that  the  power  of  Christ  may  rest  upon  me.  I  want  to 
do  the  will  of  God  completely,  walking  in  all  his  ways  and  com- 
mandments blameless.  Personal  ambition  has  mostly  passed  away. 
It  seems  to  me  that  God  could  have  raised  up  another  to  have 
done  this  work  as  well  as  I,  and  that  it  will  not  occasion  the  least 
jar  in  his  plans  to  dispense  with  me  at  any  time  and  put  another  in 
my  place.  That  he  may  work,  without  any  hindrance  on  my  part, 
whatever  he  has  to  accomplish  through  me,  is  my  entire  wish. 

But  the  light  is  dawning  brighter,  and  I  must  close.  I  am  very 
thankful  that  God  has  spared  you  so  long,  after  a  life  of  such  toil 
and  hardship.  Your  daily  prayers  have  walked  these  prairies  and 
planted  these  thirty-five  churches,  whose  light  breaks  their  vast- 
nesses. 

Des  Moines,  Jan.  28,  1876. 


A  CHURCH  ENLARGED. 

Some  of  our  churches  are  coming  to  the  conviction  that  spiritual 
enlargement  is  within  their  grasp, —  that  they  have  only  to  reach 
forth  with  faith  and  courage,  in  order  to  possess  great  spoils  of 
Satan's  kingdom.  I  will  mention  one  church  that  has  acted  upon 
this  conviction.  Other  cases  are  as  remarkable.  I  was  called,  a 
few  days  since,  to  the  dedication  of  a  house  of  worship  at  Dunlap, 
a  new  town,  a  division-station  on  the  North-western  Railroad. 
One  year  ago,  the  Congregational  Church  in  this  pleasant  village 
possessed  a  small  edifice,  poorly  constructed,  smoky  and  dingy, 
in  the  suburbs  of  the  town,  and  inconvenient  of  access.     A  small 


62  Memoirs  of  Joseph    W.  Pickett. 

congregation  worshipped  here,  that  had  struggled  for  some  years 
amid  conscious  poverty  and  more  or  less  divisions.  A  year  since 
there  came  to  this  people  a  strong  desire  for  the  spirit  of  God. 
Meetings  were  held,  with  marvellous  results.  This  sceptical  town 
was  revolutionized  by  the  Spirit.  Merchants,  bankers,  leading 
men,  were  converted.  The  strength  of  the  two  churches,  Method- 
ist and  Congregational,  was  doubled.  Our  people  said,  "  Let  us 
arise  and  build."  A  subscription  paper  was  circulated.  Hard 
times  were  forgotten,  men's  poverty  disappeared.  One  man  gave 
six  hundred  dollars.  Others  of  the  new  converts  gave  hundreds 
each.  The  most  eligible  site  in  the  town  was  chosen,  and  a 
number  of  lots  were  purchased.  The  result  is  a  beautiful  house 
of  worship,  costing  some  four  thousand  dollars,  with  audience- 
room,  prayer-room,  and  minister's  study  on  the  same  floor,  open- 
ing together,  and  presenting  an  attractive  appearance.  And  all 
was  accomplished  without  aid  from  the  Union,  without  debt,  or 
collection  on  dedication  day.  Reaching  there  after  dark  on  the 
evening  before  dedication,  the  guests  were  ushered  into  the  audi- 
ence-room, and  welcomed  by  a  large  assembly.  The  chandeliers 
were  brightly  burning.  Baskets  of  trailing  vines  were  pendent 
from  the  walls.  Calla  lilies  and  other  flowers  adorned  the  choir 
and  pulpit.  The  view  to  one  whose  last  visit  had  been  to  the  old 
church  was  enchanting. 

The  next  morning  at  six  o'clock,  the  bell  called  to  prayer.  The 
morning  was  of  surpassing  loveliness.  The  light  broke  clear  and 
beautiful  over  the  vast  rolling  prairies.  The  morning  star  seemed 
to  beam  upon  one  object  that  drew  all  eyes.  It  was  our  first  view 
of  the  exterior  of  the  church.  The  spire  and  pinnacles  rising 
from  the  fair  structure,  the  central  object  in  this  romantic  town, 
revealed  one  of  the  most  tasteful  churches  in  Western  Iowa.  The 
prayer-meeting,  well  attended,  was  followed  by  a  fellowship-meet- 
ing at  ten,  the  dedication  services  at  two  P.M.,  and  preaching  in 
the  evening.  The  next  day,  similar  meetings  were  held,  com- 
munion taking  the  place  of  the  dedicatory  service.  I  cannot  de- 
scribe the  joy  and  enthusiasm  that  attended  these  services. 

With  a  bound,  the  church  has  sprung  into  life.     Old  difficulties 


Systematic  Giving.  63 

have  passed  away.  Warm  love  for  Christ  and  each  other  seems 
to  characterize  the  whole  body.  Each  member  bears  the  mantle 
of  a  broad,  Christian  charity,  and  the  church  is  becoming  a  busy 
workshop  for  Christ.  Is  this  anything  more  than  the  power  of 
his  religion  and  the  normal  condition  of  a  body  of  true  believers  ? 
1876. 


THE  IMPORTANCE  OF  SYSTEMATIC  GIVING. 

Neither  the  calls  for  increasing  liberality  nor  the  true  concep- 
tion of  Christian  giving  can  be  satisfied  through  the  present 
method  of  raising  funds  for  rehgious  purposes.     Look  at  the 

Demands  for  Increasing  Liberality. 

In  our  own  land,  immigration  is  setting  westward,  so  as  to  move 
the  centre  of  population  for  the  nation  five  miles  each  year  along 
fifteen  hundred  miles  of  longitude,  peopling  an  area  equal  to 
Massachusetts.  Into  this  region  are  pressing  the  evil  and  the 
good,  the  drinking-saloon  and  the  gambling-house  contending  with 
the  church  and  the  school-house.  In  every  town  and  village,  this 
contest  is  being  waged ;  and  the  right  is  hampered  by  lack  of 
means  to  carry  forward  Christian  enterprises. 

Now  is  the  golden  moment  for  the  freedmen  of  the  South.  Our 
appliances  for  giving  a  Christian  education  to  this  class  of  our 
countrymen  reveal  the  hand  of  God  in  preparing  us  for  a  work  of 
immense  extent  among  them.  But  at  this  crisis  the  means  are 
wanting  to  do  that  work. 

To-day,  the  gates  of  opportunity  are  open  wide  throughout  the 
earth,  and  the  Church  is  invited  to  enter.  Yet  we  are  forced  to 
listen  to  that  pitiful  cry  of  "retrenchment"  from  the  American 
Board,  which  has  carried  sadness  to  missionary  stations  in  all 
parts  of  the  heathen  world. 

Among  ourselves,  ministerial  labor  and  all  Christian  enterprise 
are  hampered  by  inadequate  support.    Every  device  that  ingenuity 


64  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

can  contrive  has  been  resorted  to  for  raising  funds.  Appeals  to 
pleasure,  to  pride,  to  the  stomach,  to  chance,  to  almost  every  prej- 
udice and  passion,  have  been  made,  until  the  work  of  raising 
money  for  Christ's  kingdom  has  become  so  rasping  to  sensitive 
persons  that  they  will  undertake  it  only  under  pressure  of  con- 
science or  dire  necessity.  It  is  intimated  that  this  continual 
appeal  to  worried  and  exhausted  sensibilities  cannot  longer  ac- 
complish even  partial  results.  An  English  writer  thinks  that 
reaction  has  already  set  in,  and  that  there  is  danger  of  serious 
diminution  in  the  receipts  of  benevolent  societies.- 

Limits  of  Ability  to  Give. 

We  hear  the  statement  made  on  every  hand,  "We  cannot  do 
more."  Is  this  so  ?  Let  us  glance  at  the  contributions  of  our 
denomination.  For  home  and  foreign  missions  and  the  freedmen, 
we  give  somewhat  more  than  a  million  of  dollars  ;  and  for  other 
objects,  another  million.  For  home  expenses,  we  may  estimate 
five  millions  more,  making  a  total  of  seven  millions.  The 
amount  raised  by  all  denominations  in  our  country  for  the  sup- 
port and  spread  of  the  gospel  is  nearly  fifty  millions.  Compare 
this  with  amounts  expended  in  some  other  directions. 

Dr.  Young,  chief  of  the  Bureau  of  Statistics,  gives  the  esti- 
mated cost  of  intoxicating  liquors  consumed  in  the  United  States 
in  a  single  year  at  seven  hundred  and  thirty-five  millions  of  dol- 
lars, almost  fifteen  times  the  amount  given  by  all  the  churches 
of  Christ  in  the  land  for  the  establishment  and  extension  of  his 
kingdom.  We  look  with  pride  at  what  our  State  has  done  for 
the  establishment  of  that  kingdom  within  our  borders.  All  the  de- 
nominations give  something  over  a  million  of  dollars  each  year 
for  rehgious  purposes.  But  Iqwa  expends  in  a  single  year  for 
intoxicating  liquors  fifteen  million  and  three  hundred  and  sixty- 
five  thousand  dollars,  more  than  ten  times  the  amount  given  for 
all  religious  purposes.  Can  the  most  unthrifty  class  of  our  popu- 
lation give  such  sums  without  a  murmur  to  gratify  a  degrading 
appetite  ?  And  will  Christians,  who  profess  to  see  the  coming  of 
the  Lord  in  the  movements  of  our  times,  do  no  more  for  the  salva- 


''Obligation  to  God,''  65 

tion  of  a  world  ?  Is  it  possible  that  our  churches  are  paying  more 
for  single  articles  of  luxury  than  for  the  maintenance  of  religion  ? 
We  come  to  the  conclusion  which  all  arrive  at  who  have  investi- 
gated this  subject, —  that  we  have  scarcely  touched  the  borders 
of  our  capabilities. 

The  Only  Adequate  Motive. 

How,  then,  shall  we  meet  the  demands  of  the  hour  ?  Shall  we 
strive  to  make  more  vivid  appeals  ?  Shall  ministers  on  each  re- 
curring year  try  to  outdo  themselves  in  gathering  startling  facts, 
and  in  pressing  truth  home,  until,  in  some  excited  moment,  men 
unclasp  the  purse  before  Mammon  is  aware  of  it?  Shall  we  look 
for  a  wave  of  enthusiasm  to  sweep  over  the  world,  leading  the 
churches  to  lay  a  richer  offering  on  the  altar?  But  tidal  waves 
ebb,  and  there  is  no  sure  dependence  here.  There  is  a  growing 
conviction  that  our  failure  has  been  one  of  method, —  that  we  have 
been  giving  to  various  "  causes,"  and  have  left  out  of  sight  the 
Supreme  Cause.  We  have  been  looking  at  inferior  reasons,  and 
forgotten  the  highest  motive  that  can  appeal  to  the  soul, —  obliga- 
tion to  God. 

The  only  thing  that  can  save  us,  under  our  absorbing  contact 
with  sensuous  objects,  from  gross  materialism,  is  a  pervading 
sense  of  our  stewardship  in  the  use  of  this  world.  That  beautiful 
refrain  of  the  Hebrews, 

"  The  earth  is  the  Lord's, 
And  the  fulness  thereof," 

must  sound  along  the  line  of  our  daily  avocations.  God  has  leased 
this  world  to  us  for  a  term  of  years,  and  said, — 

"Occupy  till  I  come." 

He  claims  a  portion  of  all  our  earnings.  As  his  steward,  I  have 
no  right  to  use  a  farthing  till  I  have  reckoned  with  him  and  given 
him  his  just  dues.  Our  gifts  are  to  be  the  direct  offering  to  God 
of  a  fixed  portion  of  our  income  as  an  act  of  worship.  Giving 
thus  becomes  lodged  at  the  heart  of  the  Christian  life.  It  seems 
strange  that  the  Christian  world  should  have  departed  from  this 


66  Memoirs  of  yoseph   W.  Pickett. 

primal  religious  conception,  and  lost  the  sweetness  and  power  of 
the  words  of  Jesus  :  — 

"  It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive." 

This,  and  this  alone,  must  prove  the  solution  of  the  vexed  ques- 
tion, and  put  a  stop  to  those  unworthy  motives  and  commercial 
methods  which  have  pervaded  our  Christian  liberality. 

A  Law  Older  than  Moses.  ' 

This  giving  of  a  definite  portion  of  our  earnings  to  God  ante- 
dates the  ceremonial  law  by  hundreds  of  years,  and  probably  was 
established  from  the  beginning  by  divine  command,  together  with 
the  Sabbath  day.  The  sacrifices  of  Cain  and  Abel  were  made  in 
accordance  with  an  established  system.  Abram,  returning  from 
the  slaughter  of  the  kings,  would  take  no  spoils  to  himself,  "  not 
from  a  thread  to  a  shoe-latchet,"  yet  acknowledged  God's  right  to 
all,  paying  tithes  to  Melchisedec,  the  type  of  Christ.  At  that 
supreme  moment  in  the  Hfe  of  Jacob,  when  the  heavens  opened, 
and  the  world  of  faith  dawned  upon  him,  he  lifted  up  a  pillar,  and 
made  a  vow :  "  If  God  will  be  with  me  in  the  way  that  I  shall  go, 
then  the  Lord  shall  be  my  God,  and  of  all  that  thou  shalt  give  me 
I  will  surely  give  the  tenth  unto  thee."  In  the  Jewish  law  of 
tithes,  the  occasion  and  motive  for  these  gifts  are  not  stated,  after 
our  modern  methods,  as  in  the  necessities  of  the  priests  and  the 
temple  service,  but  in  this, —  "  that  thou  mayest  learn  to  fear  the 
Lord  thy  God."  And  the  priests  were  commanded  to  give,  that 
they,  too,  might  share  in  the  acknowledgment  of  these  supreme 
obligations. 

When  the  Jews  wandered  from  God  and  neglected  the  weightier 
duties  of  the  law,  Christ  reproved  their  hypocrisy,  but  declares  of 
their  tithing,  even  of  garden-seeds :  "  This  ought  ye  to  have  done, 
and  not  to  leave  the  other  undone."  Throughout  the  word  of 
God,  giving  from  a  pure  heart,  though  out  of  the  depths  of  pov- 
erty, is  commended.  The  poor  widow  that  cast  into  the  treasury 
all  her  living  was  not  impoverished,  for  He  who  stands  over 
against  the  treasury  saw  her  gift  of  love  and  knew  her  every  need. 


Giving  One-Te7ith.  6y 

There  are  deeds  that  speak  louder  than  any  word  of  prayer  or 
praise.  The  alabaster  box  of  precious  ointment  not  only  filled 
the  room  where  Jesus  was  with  fragrance,  but  has  filled  the  world 
for  eighteen  hundred  years  with  the  odor  of  a  consecrated  act. 
Paul  exhorts  poverty-stricken  disciples  to  labor  with  their  hands, 
that  they  may  have  to  give  to  him  that  needeth.  The  moment 
one  begins  to  give  from  pure  molives,  his  life  is  transfigured :  he 
joins  the  benefactors  of  his  race. 

A  Defi7iite  Portion. 

It  is  becoming  more  and  more  evident  that  setting  apart  a  defi- 
nite amount  as  a  sacred  portion  for  the  Master's  use  is  the 
starting-point  of  a  revolution  in  the  Church, —  an  antidote  against 
extravagance  on  one  hand  and  hoarding  on  the  other.  The  Jew 
called  the  tithe  the  hedge  around  the  rest  of  his  property.  Can 
one  doubt  the  wholesome  effect  upon  himself  of  having  all  his 
earnings  thus  pass  under  the  eye  of  God  ? 

Is  it  asked,  How  much  shall  each  disciple  give?  We  answer, 
A  definite  portion,  determined  beforehand  with  thought  and  prayer. 
With  this  decision,  let  there  be  faith  in  the  promises,  a  conviction 
that  no  man  can  give  of  his  earnings,  on  the  ground  that  "the 
Master  hath  need,"  who  shall  not  in  some  way  "  receive  an  hun- 
dred-fold in  this  present  time,  and  in  the  world  to  come  life  ever- 
lasting." In  determining  the  amount  to  be  given,  remember  that 
where  much  is  given  much  will  be  required ;  remember  the  land 
we  possess,  our  means  for  developing  wealth,  the  "  unspeakable 
gift "  we  have  received,  and  the  demands  of  God  upon  his  Church. 
In  view  of  greater  light,  greater  opportunities,  and  greater  exhibi- 
tions of  goodness  and  love,  few  will  set  apart  less  than  one-tenth  ; 
while  many,  with  grateful  Zaccheus,  will  give  one-half,  or,  in  emer- 
gencies like  those  of  the  early  Church,  will  lay  everything  at  the 
apostles'  feet. 

Objections. 

It  may  be  objected  that  this  is  binding  us  to  the  rigidity  of  law, 
to  strict  rules  and  arithmetical  calculation.  One  says,  "  The  gospel 
demands  all ;  and,  after  deducting  the  necessary  expenses  of  my 


68  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

family,  I  intend  to  give  God  the  rest."  Well,  these  intentions  are 
good,  but  many  who  plead  them  may  be  robbing  God.  Amid  the 
multiplying  wants  of  our  times,  is  there  not  danger  in  these  cases 
that,  unconsciously,  God  will  be  cheated  out  of  his  rightful  dues, 
and  get  a  mere  pittance?  Have  we  not  reason  to  think  that  the 
only  way  to  secure  him  against  this  wrong  is  to  bestow  upon  him 
the  first-ix\x\\.^  of  our  substance  ? 

We  follow  strict  rules  in  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  giving 
to  God  a  definite  portion  of  time.  Why  not  apply  the  same  rule 
to  our  means  1  What  Christian  would  say,  "  I  will  not  be  bound 
by  any  rule  as  to  holy  time ;  but,  when  I  have  taken  what  I  need 
for  myself  and  family,  God  shall  have  the  rest "  ?  Amid  the  multi- 
plying demands  upon  our  time,  who  would  trust  himself? 

Again,  it  is  said,  "  It  is  too  much  trouble  to  keep  this  bank- 
account  with  God."  Yes,  to  him  who  has  no  heart  in  the  service 
of  God,  it  may  seem  trouble ;  but  to  those  with  whom  religion  is 
a  life,  a  daily  walk  with  God,  this  recognition  of  stewardship  will 
be  a  constant  source  of  dehght.  Prayer  without  ceasing  is  trouble 
to  him  who  has  no  heart  in  it,  daily  watchfulness  over  besetting 
sins  is  trouble ;  but,  to  him  who  makes  the  service  of  God  more 
than  meat  and  drink,  these  duties  become  privileges. 

Advantages. 

1.  Nothing  else  gives  so  clearly  the  idea  of  stewardship  as  this 
daily  reckoning  with  God.  Ministers  will  not  waste  strength  and 
patience  in  continual  pumping  to  keep  the  channels  of  liberality 
full,  but  the  streams  of  charity  will  flow  from  an  interior  river  of 
living  water.  Our  giving  will  not  depend  upon  the  pungency  of 
sudden  appeal,  or  upon  the  tact  and  shrewdness  of  the  operator 
upon  our  sensibilities,  but  upon  our  well-considered  obligations  to 
God  and  to  the  spread  of  his  kingdom.  Conscience  and  principle 
will  take  the  place  of  irregular  impulse  and  fitful  sensibility. 

2.  All  the  difficulties  in  the  way  of  weekly  offerings  will  be 
obviated.  In  the  portion  consecrated  to  God,  every  one  will  have 
a  gift  to  bring  on  each  recurring  Sabbath.  The  difficulty  of  secur- 
ing a  consent  of  the  will  to  give  to  the  treasury  of  the  Lord  what 


A  High  Ideal.  69 

has  been  already  appropriated  to  the  multifarious  uses  to  which 
property  is  now  applied  is  the  mountain  barrier  in  the  way  of  sys- 
tematic giving.  Assign  unto  the  Lord  first  the  fixed  portion 
which  is  his  due,  and  all  these  difficulties  vanish. 

3.  We  shall  then  study  with  pleasure  the  great  enterprises  of 
the  age.  It  will  be  a  matter  of  interest  to  select  the  channels  in 
which  our  benefactions  may  flow,  so  as  best  to  honor  God  and 
bless  mankind.  The  missionary  sermon  will  no  longer  be  re- 
garded a  tiresome  device  to  extort  our  hoarded  gains,  but  a 
source  of  coveted  knowledge,  aiding  us  to  determine  where  we 
may  send  our  gifts. 

4.  We  shall  thus  be  enabled  to  use  the  world  as  not  abusing  it. 
The  thought  that  all  our  work  and  gains  are  passing  in  review  be- 
fore God  will  be  a  restraint  upon  those  unworthy  practices  and 
doubtful  methods  that  now  deaden  conscience  and  paralyze  the 
Christian  life. 

June  I,  1876. 


IMPORTANCE   OF  A   HIGH   IDEAL  TO  CHURCHES  AND 
MINISTERS. 

We  speak  of  model  churches,  of  what  a  church  ought  to  be,  as 
if  there  were  no  possibility  of  realizing  the  conception.  This  is 
wrong.  The  carpenter  has  his  plan  for  a  house,  and  expects  to 
see  it  realized  in  the  building.  If  it  is  not,  his  disjointed,  un- 
matched work  is  a  source  of  annoyance.  I  read  of  the  sick 
architect  of  the  bridge  across  East  River,  New  York.  As  he 
was  lifted  so  that  his  eye  caught  for  the  first  time  a  glimpse  of 
the  great  piers,  he  said,  "  It  looks  just  as  I  expected  it  would  ! " 
There  is  something  sublime  in  this  realization  of  an  ideal. 

The  churches  would  find  it  easier  to  keep  everything  throbbing 
with  life  and  power  than  to  remain  cold  and  dead.  They  need  a 
more  efficient  leadership.  God's  great  care  in  the  promotion  of 
his  kingdom  has  been  in  the  selection  of  leaders.  We  must  have 
able  ministers  or  none.     Some  have  entered  the  ministry  who  go 


70  Memoirs  of  yoseph  W.  Pickett. 

to  and  fro  each  season,  like  our  migratory  birds  from  Missouri  to 
Minnesota.  Unable  to  manage  the  smallest  churches,  they  are 
ready  to  enter  important  fields  in  Iowa,  and  think  themselves 
competent  for  any  position.  When  one  finds  by  fair  trial  that 
he  cannot  build  up  the  cause  of  Christ,  why  should  he  not  seek 
another  calling  ? 

There  is  need  of  pastors  who  will  go  from  house  to  house,  and 
kindle  in  families  an  enthusiasm  for  high  thoughts  and  noble 
deeds.  Every  home  needs  a  Socrates,  to  bring  in  purposes  and 
thoughts  different  from  those  that  actuate  a  majority  of  youth. 
If  the  pastor  could  enter  as  a  friend  and  counsellor,  and  direct 
their  reading  and  plans  for  life,  what  a  revolution  might  be  ef- 
fected !  I  study  the  power  of  the  old  New  England  pastors  in 
this  direction  with  increasing  interest.  There  is  one  fact  that  will 
remain  to  the  end  of  time  ;  and  this  is  that  the  personal,  immedi- 
ate contact  of  a  superior  life  is  the  mightiest  agency  God  has 
appointed  for  kindling  great  thoughts  and  purposes  in  other 
minds,  especially  in  youth.  I  pray  for  leaders  of  Israel,  like 
Moses,  Joshua,  and  Paul,  to  organize  victorious  churches,  to 
stimulate  our  youth  with  a  laudable  ambition,  and  diffuse  right- 
eousness and  truth. 
1877. 


A  NIGHT  RIDE. 

I  took  the  train  to  visit  our  lone  Grand  River  Church,  on  Rev. 
David  Knowles's  field,  Saturday  afternoon.  Reached  Winterset  at 
half-past  six,  and  started  on  foot,  expecting  to  walk  about  half  the 
way,  and  go  the  rest  of  the  distance  in  the  morning.  The  night 
was  very  dark,  and  the  road  rough.  After  going  some  four  miles, 
I  was  overtaken  by  a  man  in  a  light,  two-horse  wagon,  whom  I 
hailed  and  found  to  be  going  into  the  same  neighborhood,  some 
fifteen  miles  from  Winterset.  He  had  a  lantern,  which  I  held ; 
and  we  swept  on  with  a  will.  In  going  down  the  bluff  to  Middle 
River,  the  driver's  side  of  the  wagon  suddenly  went  down  over  the 


An  Adventure.  yi 

edge  of  a  deep  gully.,  precipitating  him  head-first  into  the  darkness. 
The  horses  did  not  stop.  The  wagon  dropped  on  the  axle  for  a 
moment,  when  the  wheel  again  struck  the  bank,  and  was  lifted  out 
without  upsetting  the  wagon.  But  the  shock  lifted  me  bodily,  and 
I  followed  in  the  wake  of  my  companion.  The  sensation  experi- 
enced, when  I  saw  that  I  must  land  it  was  impossible  to  guess 
where,  was  very  peculiar,  and  not  easily  forgotten.  I  have  felt 
the  like  two  or  three  times  before  in  dangerous  emergencies. 
But,  as  a  kind  Providence  would  have  it,  I  was  thrown  forward, 
so  as  to  clear  the  gully,  and  alight  square  on  my  feet  on  the  solid 
bank,  lantern  in  hand.  I  threw  a  momentary  glance  on  my 
friend,  to  see  whether  he  was  killed  or  needing  immediate  succor, 
and  saw  him  scrambling  in  the  sand  below  me.  All  this  occupied 
about  a  second  of  time.  My  whole  thought  was  now  turned  to 
the  horses.  They  had  never  stopped,  and  were  prancing,  much 
excited,  down  the  hill,  preparatory  to  a  run.  They  still  kept  the 
road,  from  which  we  had  varied  but  two  or  three  feet  in  going  off. 
Every  time  I  said,  "  Whoa  !  "  they  would  break  a  little,  till  a  swift 
run  for  about  forty  yards  brought  me  to  the  bits  of  the  off-horse, 
which  I  seized,  and  we  were  safe.  My  friend  soon  came  up,  much 
jarred  by  the  fall,  having  struck  on  his  head  at  the  bottom  of  the 
gully ;  but  the  ground  was  soft,  and  the  injury  slight.  He  took 
the  lantern,  went  back,  gathered  up  the  cushions,  etc.,  and  we 
went  on  rejoicing.     The  Sabbath  was  a  very  pleasant  one. 

February,  1878.         v 


TEMPERANCE  REVIVAL. 

The  Temperance  Revival  seems  to  overshadow  every  other 
interest  just  now.  It  is  a  marvel.  The  Red  Ribbon  and  the  Blue 
Ribbon  Movement  are  both  operating  in  various  parts  of  the 
State.  The  excitement,  the  contagion,  is  wonderful.  I  think  it 
will  operate  in  favor  of  earnestness  in  religion,  and  be  an  apology 
for  it  among  irreligious  men,  who  see  how  it  is  with  themselves 


72  Memoirs  of  yosepJi    W.  Pickett. 

when  aroused  to  grapple  with  evil.  The  movement  sweeps  like 
wildfire.  The  excitement  is  at  its  height  during  the  singing  and 
signing  the  pledge.  Knots  of  men,  often  of  women,  form  around 
an  intemperate  man,  and  there  is  no  resisting  the  pressure.  Con- 
tinual cheering  is  going  on  from  the  crowded  galleries  and  every 
part  of  the  house,  as  one  after  another  noted  '•  bruiser  "  goes  to 
the  platform  to  "  sign."  A  beautiful  woman  stands  ready  to 
fasten  the  ribbon  on  the  dilapidated  coat.  The  only  drawback 
is  that  the  religious  element  does  not  come  in  sufficiently.  The 
work  has  taken  hold  of  the  "  roughs,"  and  gone  down  through  the 
lowest  stratum.  Men  from  the  gutter  see  themselves  the  pets  of 
society.  The  immense  halls  are  crowded  almost  to  suffocation. 
The  odors,  sometimes  unbearable,  tell  you  the  depths  have  been 
stirred ;  while  the  coarseness  of  language  and  method  puts  out 
some  of  the  Christian  people,  so  that  they  scarcely  know  what  to 
do.  The  "  roughs,"  of  course,  are  made  prominent,  so  as  to 
reach  their  own  class  ;  and  the  religious  element  seems  almost 
necessarily  kept  in  the  background.  I  am  not  criticising  the 
movement,  but  showing  how  its  force  and  impetuosity  have  swept 
it,  to  some  extent,  beyond  the  reach  of  our  Christian  people.  But 
when  the  excitement  has  passed,  and  these  newly  awakened  hopes 
and  aspirations  begin  to  seek  their  proper  objects  more  calmly, 
then  will  be  the  time  for  a  great  religious  work,  if  Christians  are 
only  ready. 

February,  1878. 


IMPORTANCE  OF  THE  THOROUGH  CHRISTIANIZATION  OF 
THE  UNITED  STATES. 

It  is  easier  to  sweep  over  wide  regions,  and  partially  Christianize 
them,  than  to  hold  them  a  thorough  conquest  for  Christ.  This 
last  work  is  the  crowning  test  of  power. 

It  was  revealed  in  ancient  times  that  one  nation  might  become 
the  light  of  the  world.     What  efforts  God  put  forth  in  Israel  for 


Importance  of  the  Ho7ne    Work.  73 

the  salvation  of  the  ho?ne  field !  He  told  his  people  not  to  rest 
until  religion  was  completely  established  among  them ;  that,  if  any 
of  the  ungodly  were  left  in  the  land,  they  would  be  pricks  in  their 
eyes  and  thorns  in  their  side.  The  Saviour  after  his  ascension 
sent  especial  word  to  the  churches  to  "  strengthen  the  things  that 
remain." 

The  Saracens  were  not  the  destroyers  of  Christianity,  but  God's 
avenging  angels  to  remove  the  candlestick  when  the  light  had 
ceased  to  burn.  Turkey  and  Palestine  are  hard  fields  to-day.  It 
is  difficult  to  relight  these  charred,  decaying  wicks  after  centuries 
of  desolation.  Austria  is  a  hard  field,  and  Italy  and  Spain.  Must 
this  withering  blight  ever  follow  the  westward  march  of  empire  ? 
Has  America  no  lessons  to  learn  from  the  voice  of  God,  and  the 
fading  glories  of  a  Christian  civilization  in  its  ancient  seats  of 
power?  Must  we  rehnquish  our  base  of  operations  for  the  regions 
beyond  ?  Shall  it  always  be  said  that  Christianity  can  conquer, 
but  cannot  hold  the  conquered  territory.?  Shall  we  turn  from 
America  to  save  China  and  Japan?  In  centuries  to  come,  shall 
some  Chinaman  or  Japanese  visit  the  worn-out  civilization  of 
America,  and  attempt  to  lift  it  from  sottish  degradation? 

God  is  speaking  to  us  to-day,  by  the  voices  of  history,  and  by 
his  spirit  in  the  hearts  of  many  of  his  children,  to  make  America 
thoroughly  Christian  from  ocean  to  ocean.  He  calls  upon  us  to 
do  this  for  our  own  sakes,  for  the  sake  of  our  missionaries  in 
foreign  lands,  for  the  sake  of  the  vast  multitudes  of  heathendom, 
for  the  sake  of  the  divine  glory  tarnished  by  the  conquests  of 
Satan  on  fields  once  radiant  with  the  presence  and  power  of  God. 
Toward  this  land,  our  missionaries  from  Iowa  in  Micronesia, 
Europe,  Asia,  and  Africa,  are  looking :  they  plead  with  us  to  be 
true  to  the  trust  committed  to  us  as  a  nation.  Brethren  on  hea- 
then shores,  we  bid  you  God-speed  in  your  great  and  arduous 
work.  With  intense  interest,  we  mark  your  advancing  watch-fires  ; 
but  never  for  one  moment  can  we  admit  that  you  have  any  more 
important  work  or  heavier  burden  than  is  rolled  upon  us  in  saving 
this  land  for  the  central  gem  in  the  Saviour's  crown. 


74  Memoirs  of  Joseph  W.  Pickett. 

By  request  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the 
American  Home  Missionary  Society,  he  made  an  ex- 
ploring tour  to  Colorado  in  July  and  August,  1874, 
visiting  most  of  the  settlements  from  Cheyenne  and 
Laramie  on  the  north  to  Del  Norte  and  Trinidad  on 
the  south,  and  traversing  extensive  regions  never  be- 
fore visited  by  a  Congregational  minister.  The  follow- 
ing extracts  are  from  his  report  to  the  society:  — 

COLORADO:  ITS  HISTORY. 

With  deep  interest,  I  traced  the  history  of  this  remarkable  Ter- 
ritory,—  its  first  exploration  by  the  Spanish  Captain  Corando  in 
1540;  its  cession  to  the  United  States  in  1803,  as  part  of  the 
Louisiana  purchase  ;  the  expedition  of  Lieutenant  Pilce  in  1806; 
of  Colonel  Long  in  1820;  of  Captain  Bonneville  in  1832,  immor- 
talized by  Irving  in  his  Rocky  Mountain  Travels;  of  Colonel 
Fremont  in  1842;  and,  lastly,  the  cry  of  "gold"  in  1858,  which 
roused  a  nation's  cupidity  and  covered  the  plains  with  caravans  of 
fortune-seekers.  Colorado  was  set  off  from  Kansas  and  a  territo- 
rial government  established  in  1861,  embracing  a  region  of  moun- 
tains and  plains  about  twice  the  size  of  New  England. 

Description  of  Colorado :  Its  Resources. 

The  eastern  third  is  an  inclined  plane,  raised  by  the  same  mighty 
uplift  that  piled  the  huge  mountain  masses.  This  comparatively 
level  surface  rises  gradually  toward  the  west,  and  impinges  on  the 
mountain  barrier  at  nearly  the  same  meridian  for  three  hundred 
miles  across  the  entire  Territory.  On  the  plains,  within  twenty 
miles  of  the  base  of  the  mountains,  along  the  snow-fed  rivers, 
and  to  some  extent  up  the  canons  formed  by  these  rivers,  have 
sprung  up  the  principal  towns  and  settlements ;  and  here,  with  the 
exception  of  settlements  on  the  large  rivers  and  a  few  towns  in 
the  parks,  will  remain  the  bulk  of  the  inhabitants. 


The  Resources  of  Colorado.  75 

Agricultural  interests  are  rapidly  developing.  But  a  compara- 
tively small  portion  of  Colorado  can  now  be  tilled,  on  account  of 
the  scarcity  of  water  for  irrigation.  Already,  on  some  of  the 
smaller  streams,  the  limit  of  supply  has  been  reached ;  but  along 
the  larger  streams  much  valuable  land  remains  to  be  occupied. 
This  limited  supply  of  cultivable  land  creates  a  monopoly,  whicli 
will  make  horticulture  and  agriculture  exceedingly  profitable. 
The  process  of  irrigation  is  simple,  the  soil  excellent,  the  crops 
large.  There  are  vast  parks  in  the  mountains,  whose  capacity  for 
agriculture  has  been  exaggerated.  Their  elevation,  with  the  diffi- 
culties of  irrigation,  will  prevent  extensive  cultivation. 

Stock-raising  has  peculiar  facilities.  In  midsummer,  the  hardy 
grasses,  that  more  or  less  thickly  cover  the  plains,  dry  up,  retain- 
ing rich  juices,  the  strength  of  which,  from  the  dry  atmosphere 
and  absence  of  rain,  remains  through  the  winter,  supplying  food 
for  numerous  herds.  There  are  at  present  half  a  million  of  cattle 
in  the  Territory,  with  a  larger  number  of  sheep,  supplying  the  best 
of  beef  and  mutton,  with  wool  for  manufacture.  There  is  capac- 
ity for  large  increase  in  this  branch  of  industry,  though  stock- 
raising  may  be  limited  to  the  vicinity  of  rivers,  water  having  thus 
far  been  secured  with  difficulty  on  the  plains.  The  mountain 
parks  will  probably  be  used  for  raising  large  herds  to  a  more 
limited  extent  than  some  suppose,  as  they  would  need  shelter  and 
hay  at  times,  grass  growing  too  thin  for  cutting,  except  on  bottom- 
lands or  where  irrigated. 

Mining  will  always  be  an  absorbing  interest.  At  first,  small 
towns  sprung  up  as  if  by  magic  in  the  "placer"  or  "gulch"  dis- 
tricts, some  of  which  as  speedily  vanished,  giving  many  the  im- 
pression that  there  is  nothing  permanent  in  these  mining  regions. 
But  gulch-mining  has  given  place  in  most  instances  to  quartz  or 
lode  mining ;  the  lodes  of  silver  and  gold  growing  richer  as  they 
descend,  giving  almost  as  much  permanence  to  mining  as  to  any 
other  industry.  New  mines  are  continually  discovered,  especially 
in  the  San  Juan  country. 

Of  coal  deposits,  seven  thousand  square  miles  have  been  dis- 
covered, with  an  annual  yield  of  two   hundred  thousand  tons. 


76  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

Some  of  the  finest  deposits  are  in  the  vicinity  of  Canon  City, 
near  a  mountain  of  magnetic  iron  larger  than  the  Iron  Mountain 
of  Missouri.  Immense  iron  deposits  have  been  found  in  other 
places. 

The  lumber  interests  of  Colorado  need  also  to  be  mentioned. 
Pine,  spruce,  and  fir  trees  grow  abundantly  in  the  mountains  ;  but 
the  central  region  of  the  plains,  known  as  "the  Divide,"  is  now 
yielding  most  of  the  pine  lumber.  The  product  last  year  was 
thirty  million  feet.  There  are  also  forty  flouring-mills  in  opera- 
tion, which  last  year  turned  out  six  hundred  thousand  sacks  of 
flour,  probably  unsurpassed  in  quality  by  any  in  the  country. 

Colorado  has  attained  great  notoriety  as  a  resort  for  invalids, 
and  will  be  more  and  more  sought  after.  Pleasure-seekers  and 
lovers  of  the  wonderful  in  nature  will  rear  splendid  mansions  in 
her  romantic  parks  and  wild  canons.  Cities  are  rising  in  various 
parts  of  the  Territory  which  compare  favorably  with  those  of  like 
size  in  "the  States."  It  is  evident  that  the  present  inhabitants 
have  "  come  to  stay,"  and  that  Colorado  is  to  develop  a  sure  and 
healthy  growth  in  population  and  in  all  branches  of  industry.  A 
public  school  system  has  been  adopted,  which  is  as  yet  but  par- 
tially established  in  the  southern  counties,  controlled  as  they  are 
by  Mexican  majorities,  which  are  happily  diminishing. 

Religious  Condition  of  Colorado. 

Congregationalists  came  to  the  Territory  in  perhaps  as  large 
numbers  as  any  other  denomination ;  but,  with  that  lack  of  denom- 
inational instincts  which  has  characterized  so  much  of  our  West- 
ern work,  entered  other  communions,  and  aided  in  building  up 
other  church  polities.  In  1863,  the  first  Congregational  Church 
was  organized  at  Central  City.  The  following  year  two  more  were 
formed,  at  Boulder  and  Denver.  We  now  have  eight  churches, 
with  two  hundred  members  and  five  ministers.  We  find  ourselves 
at  this  time  the  smallest  of  the  tribes  of  Israel.  While  one  or  two 
of  our  churches  are  self-sustaining,  the  rest  must  depend  to  a  con- 
siderable extent  upon  the  Home  Missionary  Society.  Look  at 
some  of  the  causes  of  this  state  of  things :  — 

I.  Religion  from  the  first  has  been  in  a  very  depressed  state  in 


Denominationalism.  JJ 

the  Territory.  Men  came,  under  a  gold  excitement,  with  minds 
preoccupied.  For  a  time  there  was  no  society.  There  were  few 
families.  Men  gave  loose  rein  to  every  worldly  passion.  Minis- 
ters were  little  cared  for.  In  the  hard  life-struggle,  benevolence, 
hospitality,  and  the  kindred  virtues  of  the  older  States,  were  almost 
forgotten.  This  apathy  to  spiritual  things  proved  depressing  to 
ministers,  and  it  was  not  hard  for  them  to  persuade  themselves 
that  they  might  be  more  useful  in  places  where  larger  congrega- 
tions could  be  secured  with  less  privations. 

2.  The  denominational  spirit  has  been  strong.  The  great  cen- 
tralized denominations  have  lavished  large  sums  of  money  on 
communities  almost  indifferent  to  the  gospel.  The  Episcopalians 
have  some  fifteen  churches ;  the  Methodists,  fifty  preaching  ap- 
pointments ;  the  Southern  Methodists,  some  twelve  churches  ;  the 
Presbyterians  and  Baptists,  each  about  twenty.  The  Cumberland 
Presbyterians,  the  Reformed  Episcopalians,  and  other  denomina- 
tions have  several  churches.  As  a  result,  many  small  towns  have 
been  occupied  by  various  denominations,  rallying  scarcely  a  dozen 
hearers  each ;  while  the  mass  of  the  people  are  in  the  drinking  and 
gambling  saloons,  or  at  their  business,  on  the  Sabbath  as  on 
secular  days.  It  is  easy  to  imagine  the  effect  of  this  state  of 
things  on  a  New  England  minister,  taught  from  childhood  to  cul- 
tivate a  fraternal  spirit  toward  all  denominations.  Looking  upon 
these  rival  interests,  he  says  that  he  cannot  be  a  party  to  this  de- 
nominational struggle,  and  leaves  for  some  more  congenial  clime. 
This  is  much  of  the  history  of  the  past  ten  years.  Our  ministers 
felt  that  the  field  was  occupied,  and  that  in  withdrawing  they 
solved  the  problem  of  duty.  Yet  it  is  possible  they  had  not. 
Congregational  ministers  who  have  been  long  in  contact  with  this 
knotty  problem  are  inclined  to  believe  that  it  cannot  thus  be  dis- 
posed of.  Colorado  is  peopled  with  a  sagacious,  intelligent  popu- 
lation, who  are  not  to  be  brought  to  the  sanctuary  and  to  Christ 
by  mere  denominational  zeal. 

When  the  "  great  expectations  "  awakened  in  the  formation  of 
new  towns  have  subsided,  and  foreign  funds  have  been  withdrawn, 
and  denominational  pressure  from  abroad  has  somewhat  abated, 


yS  Memoirs  of  Joseph    W.  Pickett. 

the  people  will  see  their  inability  to  support  so  many  conflicting 
organizations,  and  will  demand  concentration  to  harmonize  these 
conflicting  interests.  We  have  reason  to  expect  that  in  these  new 
adjustments  a  portion  of  these  communities  will  turn  toward  the 
Congregational  polity. 

Moreover,  we  may  hope  much  from  Colorado  College,  located 
at  Colorado  Springs.  In  the  vicinity  of  this  lovely  spot  is  some 
of  the  most  beautiful,  wonderful,  and  sublime  scenery  in  the  Ter- 
ritory. Just  beyond  Fountain  River  lie  Manitou  and  the  "  Garden 
of  the  Gods,"  with  the  vast  mountain  range  close  at  hand,  culmi- 
nating in  Pike's  Peak,  whose  summit  is  but  fifteen  miles  away. 
Here  will  be  the  metropolis  of  the  cultured  and  refined  who  visit 
this  land.  The  town  is  being  built  under  the  auspices  of  a  com- 
pany, who  are  liberal  in  their  plans  for  the  future.  They  have 
given  twenty  acres  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  city  for  the  site 
of  the  college. 

I  have  thus  attempted  to  give  a  brief  sketch  of  Colorado  and 
its  demands  upon  us.  Our  record  has  been  one  of  humiliation 
thus  far ;  but  it  is  not  too  late  to  retrieve  our  fortunes,  and  not 
encroach  on  any  other  denomination.  I  need  not  speak  of  the 
sacrifices  to  be  made.  In  that  gospel  which  has  raised  up  so 
many  in  great  exigencies  to  face  dangers  and  endure  hardships, 
there  is  still  ample  power  to  equip  men  for  glorious  conquests. 
Never  did  I  have  my  spirit  so  deeply  stirred  as  in  some  of  the 
remote  mining  towns  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  Territory. 
Licentiousness,  drunkenness,  heaven-defying  wickedness,  are  on 
every  hand,  with  no  Sabbath  and  no  sanctuary.  It  is  here  that 
ministers  and  their  families  are  needed,  not  to  find  good  society, 
but  to  7nake  it ;  willing,  like  the  Saviour,  to  throw  their  lives  into 
this  dark  current,  that  they  may  purify  it.  Some  tell  us  that  the 
culture  and  refinement  of  Yale  and  Andover  unfit  men  for  this 
work ;  but  no  man  can  have  too  much  culture  or  refinement  for 
even  these  semi-barbaric  regions. 

In  this  tour,  he  found  his  funds  exhausted  at  Trini- 
dad, an  expected  remittance  not  reaching  him.     In  his 


An  Unexpected  '^ Remittajtce.''  79 

Sunday  morning  walk,  while  reflecting  upon  the  emer- 
gency and  what  he  should  do,  lo  !  something  upon  the 
ground  attracted  his  attention, —  a  roll  of  greenbacks, 
amounting  to  sixty-five  dollars.  He  reported  the  fact, 
advertised  it  in  church  and  newspaper ;  but  no  claim- 
ant ever  appeared. 

In  view  of  the  importance  of  Colorado  and  the  diffi- 
culties of  that  field,  the  Missionary  Society,  upon  his 
return  from  this  visitation,  desired  to  transfer  him 
thither ;  but  Iowa  was  too  dear  to  him,  and  his  con- 
victions that  his  duty  was  there  were  too  strong  for  a 
change  to  be  made.     He  wrote,  October  19,  1874  :  — 

The  first  effect  of  your  letters  was  a  real  womanly  crying-spell. 
You  cannot  realize  how  dear  to  me  Iowa  has  become.  Here  is 
the  grave  of  my  wife ;  here  are  my  two  children ;  here  are  the 
churches  for  which  I  have  labored  and  prayed;  here  are  my 
helpers  with  their  families  at  Des  Moines  (I  doubt  whether 
any  one  else  would  be  willing  or  able  to  aid  them  as  I  have,  or  to 
work  successfully  with  them) ;  here  are  the  weak  churches  without 
pastors  who  look  to  my  visitations,  and  the  churches  I  have  aided 
in  organizing ;  here  is  a  State  capable  of  sustaining  a  vast  popula- 
tion, that  I  long  to  help  in  lifting  into  a  life  of  sacrifice  for  Christ. 
Everything  seems  in  working  order.  The  pastors  are  in  hearty 
co-operation  with  me,  and  welcome  me  to  all  their  associations  as 
one  of  their  number.  My  helpers  are  out  on  the  field  hard  at 
work.  All  this  I  am  asked  to  leave,  for  a  field  that  offers  nothing 
but  continual  hardships,  and  that  will  be  occupied  by  a  sparse, 
scattered,  and,  I  might  say  in  the  language  of  Scripture,  "peeled  " 
people.  I  have  seen  enough  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  region  to 
know  that  there  will  be  continual  disappointment  to  many  of  the 
settlers.  Its  high  and  arid  plains  are  the  home  of  the  locust- 
plague.     Its  rivers  disappoint  by  the  very  limited  supply  of  water. 


8o  Memoirs  of  yoseph  W.  Pickett. 

Its  climate  is  depressing  and  debilitating  to  many.  As  to  the 
churches,  there  will  be  no  sudden  development.  It  would  be  folly 
to  press  in-to  towns  full  of  strong  churches. 

And  yet,  with  all  this,  there  is  work  to  be  done  there ;  and,  if  we 
have  any  part  in  this  inheritance,  it  is  time  we  were  up  and  doing. 
I  have  heard  many  voices  urging  me  to  go ;  but  one  more,  the 
Divine,  is  needed.  My  soul  has  been  going  up  in  earnest  petition 
to  the  great  Head  of  the  Church.  He  must  tell  me  plainly  before 
I  can  leave  a  field  which  I  had  promised  myself  I  could  live  and 
die  in. 

November  4,  1874. —  I  have  wrestled  in  prayer  over  the  problem 
of  changing  my  field  of  labor,  and  the  thought  that  there  might  be 
greater  sacrifice  in  going  to  Colorado  and  that  Christ  might  be 
more  honored  had  a  kind  of  fascination  for  me;  but,  the  more 
I  have  studied  and  examined,  the  more  am  I  convinced  that  my 
most  important  work  in  Iowa  is  not  yet  done.  Every  one  with 
whom  I  have  conversed  felt  that  it  would  be  a  sad  waste  for  me 
to  leave  this  field.  I  have  tried  to  impress  upon  ministers  the 
importance  of  remaining  where  they  have  gained  position  and  in- 
fluence. I  have  told  the  churches,  when  speaking  of  my  remain- 
ing unmarried,  that  I  was  wedded  to  Southern  Iowa.  I  see  every 
year  new  methods  by  which  more  can  be  accomplished.  There 
is  danger  that  Iowa  will  become  selfish,  worldly,  luxurious,  and 
expend  her  wealth  in  pride  and  vanity.  I  cannot  then  see  it  my 
duty  to  go  to  Colorado.  I  believe  I  can  do  more  for  Christ  and 
the  souls  of  men  by  remaining  where  I  am. 

Four  years  later,  early  in  1878,  the  Missionary  Soci- 
ety, with  a  view  of  enlarging  its  work  in  the  "  New 
West,"  determined  to  reduce  its  expenditures  in  Iowa, 
and  asked  Mr.  Pickett  to  take  the  superintendence  of 
the  mountain  department.     He  wrote  :  — 

The  proposition  was  first  received  with  great  revulsion  of  feel- 
ing, as  my  attachment  to  the  Iowa  churches  had  become  so 
strong,  and  Providence  had  thrown  open  such  a  wide  field  of  use- 


Asked  to  go  to  Colorado.  8i 

fulness,  that  I  had  come  to  feel  that  I  wished  to  live  and  die  on 
this  field.  When  entering  the  State,  I  have  often  fallen  upon  my 
knees  to  pray  for  it.  Many  hours  have  I  spent  alone  in  the  wild 
forests  on  the  banks  of  the  Missouri,  looking  eastward,  and  pray- 
ing for  Iowa,  It  seemed  to  me  that  God  was  saying,  "  Unto  thee 
have  I  given  this  land."  I  have  attempted  to  secure  ministers 
who  would  give  their  lives  to  Iowa.  I  have  told  them  I  cannot 
see  how  men  can  change  from  State  to  State.  I  have  attempted 
to  impress  upon  new-comers  the  power  of  an  established  reputa- 
tion, and  advised  them  to  lay  broad  plans  to  secure  it.  I  have 
said  that  with  such  a  reputation  no  man  can  afford  to  change  his 
location.  I  have  spent  this  year  in  study  and  plans  of  labor  for 
years  to  come.  Now  you  ask  me  to  leave.  I  have  no  home  tie  to 
hold  me,  only  an  office.  But  what  of  the  little  churches,  many  of 
them  pastorless,  to  which  I  have  said,  I  will  care  for  you, —  and 
the  colleges  I  had  expected  to  help  ?  I  cannot  yet  gain  the  con- 
sent of  my  mind  that  my  sphere  is  not  here ;  but  a  shadow  begins 
to  fall  between  me  and  this  cherished  field. 


A  little  later,  while  with  his  sons  at  St.  Louis,  visit- 
ing his  mother  and  sister,  on  his  way  to  the  National 
Sunday  School  Convention  at  Atlanta,  to  which  he  had 
been  appointed  a  delegate  by  the  Sunday  School  Con- 
vention of  Iowa,  a  request  came  from  the  officers  of 
the  Home  Missionary  Society  that  he  would  proceed 
at  once  to  Colorado.  The  necessity  was  now  upon 
him  for  an  immediate  decision.  "  This  letter,"  he  said 
to  his  brother-in-law,  in  whose  office  he  received  it, 
''may  change  my  whole  life  plans."  To  the  inquiry 
what  he  would  do,  he  answered  :  "  I  cannot  say  yet.  I 
do  not  see  my  way  clear.  I  will  go  to  the  house,  and 
think  further  about  it.  I  must  ask  God  to  guide  me.  I 
shall  do  what  he  directs."     He  went  to  the  house,  told 


82  Memoirs  of  Joseph    W.  Pickett. 

his  mother,  and  in  a  retired  room  spent  an  hour  in 
thought  and  prayer,  with  a  map  of  the  West  spread  out 
before  him.  Coming  out,  his  eye  bright  and  his  face 
lighted  with  a  smile,  he  said  :  "  It  is  settled.  I  go  to 
Colorado.  My  trip  to  Atlanta  must  be  given  up.  I 
shall  return  to  Des  Moines  at  once,  and  prepare  for 
removal."     His  diary  contains  the  following  record:  — 

April  13,  1878,  St.  Louts. —  With  strong  crying  and  tears,  in 
view  of  time  and  eternity,  with  God  as  my  helper,  have  decided 
to  enter  upon  the  Superintendency  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  De- 
partment of  Home  Missions.  God  has  promised  to  go  up  with 
me.     I  have  invoked  the  Spirit  which  guided  Paul  to  guide  me. 

From  that  hour,  he  did  not  hesitate,  but  prepared  at 
once  for  his  new  work.  He  was  married  at  Wilton, 
Iowa,  April  18,  1878,  to  Mrs.  Sybil  B.  Rider.  They 
had  long  shared  each  other's  confidence  and  esteem, 
and  he  was  happy  and  blest  in  his  new  home.  In  a 
farewell  to  his  brethren,  he  said :  — 

I  leave  not  a  single  enemy.  From  first  to  last,  I  have  had  the 
hearty  co-operation  of  every  minister.  I  want  to  tell  them  how 
much  their  sympathy  has  helped  and  cheered  me,  and  how  much 
their  forbearance,  where  there  were  doubtless  many  mistakes,  has 
lightened  the  load  of  arduous  labor.  Nine  years  of  close  alliance 
with  some  of  the  best  Christian  workers  have  made  impressions 
never  to  be  effaced.  These  have  been  years  of  great  prosperity, 
and  our  relative  gain  in  the  State  has  been  greater  than  that  of 
any  other  denomination. 

There  are  eight  words  I  hope  to  bear  with  me  as  a  talisman  in 
scaling  mountains  and  roaming  the  trackless  deserts:  — 

*'  Who  loved  me,  and  gave  himself  for  me." 
With  these  words,  I  hope  to  be  able  to  say  with  Augustine :  — 
"  Grant  what  thou  askest,  then  ask  what  thou  wilt." 
"Da  quod  Jnbes,  et  jubt.  quod  vis.''^ 


His  Life  in  Des  Moines.  83 

With  a  farewell  whose  echo  will  long  sound  in  my  heart,  I  leave 
you  for  that  vast  and  needy  region,  whose  mountains  of  gold  and 
silver  can  never  satisfy  the  wants  of  the  human  soul.  I  ask  your 
prayers  that  Christ  may  be  so  presented  as  to  raise  up  many 
churches,  which  shall  be  worthy  successors  of  those  among  the 
hills  of  New  England,  which  have  wrought  so  mightily  for  free- 
dom and  righteousness  in  this  land.  It  will  not  be  an  irksome 
duty  to  remember  you  in  prayer,  that  God  may  enable  you  to  lay 
foundations  here  for  great  conquests  for  Christ  in  the  ages  to 
come. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Iowa  Home  Mission- 
ary Society,  held  at  Tabor,  May  31,  1878,  his  brethren 
recorded  their  sense  of  his  devoted  and  self-denying 
labors  in  Iowa,  his  warm-hearted  sympathy  and  broth- 
erly helpfulness  to  the  cause  of  Christ  at  large,  and 
their  prayers  that  the  Lord  would  use  his  experience, 
power,  and  practical  energy  for  great  results  in  his  new 
field.  The  loss  of  Southern  Iowa,  they  said,  is  the 
gain  of  Colorado. 

We  are  indebted  to  his  pastor  at  Des  Moines  for  the 
following  account  of  his  life  there  :  — 

Coming  to  Des  Moines  in  the  fall  of  1871,  I  met  Brother 
Pickett.  It  was  the  first  of  our  real  acquaintance,  though  we  had 
met  as  students  at  Andover.  Not  having  been  classmates,  how- 
ever, we  had  barely  known  each  other.  But  the  fact  that  we  had 
been  at  the  same  school  at  the  same  time  tended  to  bring  us  at 
once  together.     Our  fellowship  was  cordial  and  unbroken. 

He  was  a  man  easy  to  know,  always  approachable,  with  a  warm 
and  living  interest  in  the  local  pastoral  work  as  well  as  in  his  own 
extended  field. 

To  one  observing  him  from  the  outside,  his  Des  Moines  life 
must  have  given  the  impression  of  a  loneliness  which  called 


84  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

for  profound  sympathy.  For  himself,  as  fully  as  any  man  I  ever 
knew,  he  could  adopt  the  words  of  Jesus :  "  I  am  not  alone,  for 
the  Father  is  with  me." 

He  was  no  recluse,  but  he  was  peculiarly  by  himself.  The  two 
boys,  so  cherished  in  his  paternal  heart,  were  at  Mount  Pleasant ; 
and  he  had  nothing  that  answered  to  the  home  life  of  those  happy 
years  when  his  care  was  for  one  limited  field.  In  Des  Moines, 
Southern  Iowa  was  his  parish,  and  one  place  in  it  almost  as  much 
his  home  as  another. 

It  was  not  his  habit  to  thrust  himself  upon  others  for  society. 
He  rested  himself  by  solitary  rambles  in  the  woods  and  along  the 
river.  There  was  to  him  a  joy  and  sympathy  in  nature.  He  was 
among  the  first  to  know  that  the  wild  flowers  had  opened,  and  to 
welcome  their  coming.  He  knew  the  quiet  nooks  where  beauty 
was  fairest,  and  the  points  where  the  landscape  broadened  out 
into  varied  and  inspiring  views.  It  was  this  face  to  face  commun- 
ion with  God  in  nature  that  helped  him  to  endure  so  well  the 
strain  his  work  imposed. 

There  were  homes  in  the  city  where  he  was  always  welcome, 
and  where  now  and  then  he  gave  himself  the  pleasure  of  a  social 
hour.  But  he  was  little  given  to  the  quest  of  enjoyment,  as  such. 
His  time  was  occupied  to  the  full.  His  correspondence,  accumu- 
lating during  his  absences,  his  reports  to  the  parent  society,  which 
he  prepared  with  much  care,  and  his  sermons,  addresses,  and  arti- 
cles, gave  him  unremitting  employment  through  more  hours  of 
labor  than  most  of  his  ministerial  brethren  know.  Late  into  the 
nights,  his  lighted  window  told  the  story  of  the  busy,  prayerful 
man  working  within.  His  meals  were  often  taken  irregularly, 
according  to  the  exigencies  of  his  work.  Matters,  which  perhaps 
might  have  been  adjusted  by  correspondence,  received  his  per- 
sonal attention.  Often  he  would  not  wait  to  write  letters  and 
look  for  answers,  but,  binding  on  his  sandals,  would  go  to  see 
with  his  own  eyes,  and  help  with  his  presence  and  voice  and 
purse.  So  he  was  always  going, —  out  on  the  night  trains,  on  the 
slow-moving  freight-cars,  in  farmers'  wagons,  in  any  way  by  which 
he  could  make  a  point  directly,  with  the  least  consideration  for 
himself. 


His  Love  of  Childre^t.  85 

When  in  town,  he  was  careful  to  attend  the  social  meetings 
of  Plymouth  Church,  and  was  an  earnest  but  unobtrusive  helper. 
No  soul  was  more  susceptible  to  gracious  currents  of  spiritual 
influence,  no  eye  keener  to  detect  signs  of  declension  or  advance. 
None  who  used  to  hear  his  voice  will  soon  forget  his  deep  and 
tender  solicitude  for  the  kingdom  of  the  Master,  and  for  personal 
anointing. 

One  of  his  loving,  enthusiastic  labors  was  his  paper,  —  that 
annual  visitor  to  the  churches,  so  well  remembered  and  so  highly 
prized.  To  the  churches  of  his  superintendence,  it  was  a  messen- 
ger of  cheer,  a  manual  of  direction,  a  chapter  of  encouragement 
and  inspiration.  To  the  self-sustaining  churches,  it  was  a  rallying 
call.  To  our  kindred  in  the  faith  throughout  the  land,  it  was  a 
cry  out  of  the  Macedonia  of  the  West  for  that  sympathy  and 
co-operation  by  which  we  must  become  "  one  army  of  the  living 
God."  Though  emanating  from  a  home  missionary  superintend- 
ent, it  took  in  the  whole  field  of  Christian  work.  He  would  allow 
no  church  to  which  he  ministered  in  the  name  of  the  Home  Mis- 
sionary Society  to  be  satisfied  always  to  receive,  or  to  curtail 
.enterprise  under  the  narrow  plea  that  "  charity  begins  at  home." 
He  cared  assiduously  for  this  especial  field,  but  never  conceived 
of  it  as  more  than  a  part  of  that  greater  field,  the  world.  No  man 
was  more  alive  to  the  interests  of  the  American  Board  or  the 
American  Missionary  Association,  though  the  home  field  assumed 
larger  proportions  with  him  than  with  some  specialists  in  religious 
enterprises. 

He  enjoyed  the  happiness  of  children,  and  the  cheer  of  playful, 
musical  family  circles.  In  summer,  he  gave  himself  a  little  season 
of  relief.  Then  his  boys  were  with  him.  He  interested  himself 
in  discriminating  way^for  their  improvement,  stimulating  them  in 
habits  of  observation  and  in  healthful  exercise.  They  shared  his 
walks  in  the  woods.  He  owned  a  boat,  which  often  carried  upon 
the  river  a  joyous  load  of  children  besides  his  own.  He  unbent 
himself  gracefully  to  invigorating  boyish  sports,  carrying  into 
them  the  eagerness  and  fire  that  marked  his  professional  toil. 
He  strove  to  cultivate  in  his  boys  a  spirit  of  Christian  manliness, 

5 


86  Memoirs  of  Joseph    W.  Pickett. 

and  to  possess  their  minds  with  a  pure  and  noble  ideal  of  life. 
They  accompanied  him  in  journeys  to  his  birthplace,  to  the 
Centennial  Exposition,  to  scenes  of  natural  beauty  and  places 
of  historic  interest,  in  which  one  aim  prevailed, —  to  educate  them 
to  self-reliance  and  worthy  living. 

So  the  years  ran  on,  until  he  was  taken  up  from  Iowa,  where  he 
had  become  so  firmly  rooted,  and  planted  in  the  remoter  West. 
Full  of  enthusiasm  for  his  new  work  and  of  joy  in  the  thought  of 
a  reconstructed  home,  he  took  his  leave  of  us.  It  was  an  inspira- 
tion to  meet  him  then,  and  to  feel  that  we  were  giving  such  an 
experienced,  devoted  worker  to  the  regions  beyond.  To  us  in 
Des  Moines,  it  was  a  personal  loss.  We  knew  there  went  from  us 
a  man  consecrated  in  every  power  and  purpose  to  the  work  of 
Christ.  The  fragrance  of  his  life  is  with  us,  and  the  dear  remem- 
brance of  his  name. 

A.  L.  Frisbie. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

SUPERINTENDENT    AND    GENERAL    MISSIONARY    IN    THE 
ROCKY    MOUNTAINS. 

IV/TR.  PICKETT  entered  his  field  at  Cheyenne,  Wyo- 
ming Territory,  May  i,  1878.  He  met  a  cordial 
reception  from  the  members  of  the  Colorado  Associa- 
tion, then  in  session  at  that  place,  and  won  their 
confidence  and  love.  He  established  his  home  at 
Colorado  Springs,  and  proceeded  to  his  work.  He 
first  gave  himself  to  the  San  Juan  region,  afterwards 
to  the  Black  Hills  in  Dakota,  and  finally  to  Leadville. 
His  reports  and  letters  give  a  graphic  view  of  his 
labors. 

A  SABBATH  IN  SOUTH  PUEBLO. 

In  my  first  missionary  trip,  I  visited  South  Pueblo.  The  mesa 
on  which  the  town  is  built  has  much  improved  since  my  visit  four 
years  ago.  The  trees,  then  recently  planted  along  the  irrigating 
ditches,  have  grown  rapidly,  and,  with  the  lawns  of  clover  and 
blue-grass,  look  exceedingly  homelike.  The  two  houses  of  wor- 
ship, Northern  and  Southern  Methodist,  are  still  uncompleted,  as 
in  1874.  I  found  there  was  no  regular  preaching  of  any  kind.  I 
visited  from  house  to  house  on  Saturday  evening,  inviting  to  the 
Sabbath  service,  continuing  my  calls  till  after  dark.  At  one  house, 
I  found,  to  my  surprise,  an  old  Iowa  friend,  who  received  me  with 
great  cordiality. 


8S  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

The  Sabbath  dawned  without  a  cloud,  with  an  atmosphere  of 
delicious  freshness.  With  Bible  in  hand,  I  walked  out  on  the 
mesa  for  preparation  for  the  services  of  the  day.  Standing  on 
a  gentle  elevation,  I  looked  westward  upon  a  scene  of  surpassing 
beauty  and  grandeur.  Pueblo  stands  at  the  base  of  a  vast  amphi- 
theatre. To  the  north  is  Pike's  Peak,  standing  usher  at  the  gate- 
way of  the  mountains,  looking  over  the  plains.  With  a  gradual 
curve  to  the  south-west,  the  mountains  sweep  around  Canon  City, 
and  merge  into  the  Greenhorn  Range.  Still  further  stretch  away 
the  castellated  peaks  of  the  Sangre  de  Christo ;  while  to  the  south, 
covered  with  snow  far  down  their  sides,  rise  the  twin  summits  of 
the  Spanish  Peaks,  blazing  like  diamonds  in  the  southern  sky. 
Most  fittingly,  my  Bible  opened  to  the  89th  Psalm,  verses  11,  12, 
13,  and  to  the  90th  Psalm.  Grander  than  Tabor  and  Hermon  will 
this  region  be,  if  God  will  write  his  name  upon  it. 

The  morning  was  a  fitting  preparation  for  the  labors  of  the  day. 
A  large  congregation  welcomed  me  at  the  Southern  Methodist 
church,  entering  with  zest  into  the  services.  In  the  evening,  a 
still  larger  congregation  filled  the  church.  With  many  kind 
expressions  at  the  close  of  service,  I  was  invited  to  repeat  my 
visit.  While  passing  from  the  church,  a  woman  accosted  me 
with  the  question,  "Why  did  you  not  take  a  collection  with  such 
an  audience  ? "  and  shook  hands.  As  she  withdrew  her  hand,  I 
felt  something  in  my  palm,  which  I  found  on  coming  to  the  light 
was  a  dollar  bill,  which  I  enclose  as  the  first-fruits  unto  God  from 
my  new  field.  May  it  be  an  earnest  of  those  fruits  which  shall 
shake  like  Lebanon  in  years  to  come ! 

May  26,  1878. 

On  the  last  day  of  May,  he  started  on  a  tour  of 
exploration,  going  over  the  Denver  and  Rio  Grande 
Railroad,  through  the  Veta  Pass,  at  a  higher  elevation 
than  any  other  railroad  had  then  attained  in  North 
America,  to  San  Luis  Park.  At  Garland  City,  he  pur- 
chased a  pony  for  forty-seven  dollars  and  a  half,  and 


In  San  Luis  Park,  89 

rode  to  Alamosa  on  the  Rio  Grande,  and  to  the  ro- 
mantic Mexican  town  of  Conejos,  at  the  southern 
extremity  of  the  Park.  From  this  point,  he  passed 
two  hundred  miles  westward,  through  a  continuous 
mountain  range,  to  Animas  City  in  South-western  Col- 
orado. He  then  went  through  the  wild  gorge  of  the 
Animas,  a  distance  of  some  fifty  miles,  to  Silverton,  the 
county  seat  of  San  Juan  County,  where  he  spent  four 
weeks  in  hard  missionary  labor.  Returning  by  a  north- 
ern route  over  the  mountains,  the  trail  being  then  open, 
he  reached  Colorado  Springs  July  12. 

Alamosa^  June  3,  1878. —  My  thirty-five  miles'  ride  through  San 
Luis  Park  was  a  hard  one.  The  wind  blew  wildly  all  day  right  in 
my  face.  I  reached  the  left  bank  of  the  Rio  Grande  as  the  sun 
was  setting  behind  the  Sierra  Madre,  or  Mother  Range,  as  the 
great  central  range  is  called.  All  day  Mount  Blanco  and  the 
Sangre  de  Christo  Mountains  rose  before  me  at  my  right,  through 
which  I  passed  on  the  cars  the  day  before.  I  crossed  on  the 
ferry  to  the  town,  which  has  sprung  up  almost  in  a  night,  and  has 
about  eighty  rough-looking  houses  and  saloons,  with  twelve  fami- 
lies and  two  hundred  inhabitants,  wholly  given  to  idolatry.  It  is 
7  A.M.     I  start  in  a  few  minutes  for  Conejos. 

12  M. —  I  am  still  in  San  Luis  Park,  going  south  over  a  level 
plain.  Not  a  house  since  I  left  Alamosa.  Mountains  fill  the  hori- 
zon on  every  side.  Grateful,  fleecy  clouds  come  between  me  and 
the  sun.  Mount  Blanco's  head  is  covered  with  cloud  upon  cloud, 
like  steps  up  to  heaven.  To  the  south  is  Round  Mountain,  toward 
which  Conejos  is  in  a  direct  line. 

Jwte /^. —  My  little  pony  took  me  safely  across  Conejos  River 
last  evening.  Leaving  Conejos  at  9  A.M.,  and  passing  up  on  the 
banks  of  the  river  about  eight  miles,  I  began  to  ascend  the  moun- 
tains. The  trees  are  yellow  pine  and  aspen,  mostly.  Flowers  are 
in  bloom  and  strawberries  in  blossom.     The  weather  is  cold,  with 


90  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

snow  for  two  hours,  but  not  remaining  on  the  ground.  I  met  a 
drove  of  sheep, —  many  thousands, —  with  lambs  and  some  goats, 
driven  by  three  Spaniards, —  a  beautiful  sight. 

6  P.M. —  The  roads  are  fearfully  slippery,  mountains  precipi- 
tous. Three  miles  back,  I  struck  a  fresh  wagon-track  on  the 
snow,  two  wagons  with  'three  yoke  of  oxen  each,  and  drivers  by 
their  side.  They  have  two  or  three  tons  to  a  wagon.  In  places, 
they  put  on  the  six  teams  to  pull  one  wagon  up.  I  told  them  I 
must  camp  with  them.  We  came  to  a  cabin  with  a  large  stone 
chimney.     I  borrowed  matches,  and  have  a  rousing  fire. 

June  5. —  The  morning  has  broken  clear  and  beautiful ;  no  wind, 
and  but  little  snow.  I  slept  on  the  ground,  with  an  ox-yoke  for  my 
pillow.  The  freighters  gave  me  two  blankets.  I  rose  at  eleven, 
when  I  could  not  sleep  for  the  cold,  gathered  together  the  few 
coals,  and  started  a  good  fire.  I  warmed  till  twelve ;  then  slept 
two  hours  more,  when  I  chopped  more  wood,  built  another  fire,  and 
slept  two  hours  more.  It  is  now  past  five.  The  freighters  have 
not  stirred  all  night.  A  beautiful  creek  murmurs  near  by,  which 
has  a  deep,  wild  canon.  The  robins  !  their  voices  echo  from  every 
mountain  side.  I  think  the  musicians  among  them  have  made  up 
a  mountain  party. 

Last  night,  the  freighters  baked  good  bread  in  a  large  kettle, 
fried  ham  in  a  skillet,  made  nice  tea,  and  had  syrup.  They  under- 
stand their  business.  I  must  now  tell  them  I  have  the  teakettle 
on,  and  the  fire  is  ready  for  cooking.  An  old  magpie  is  walking 
in  front  of  the  tent,  within  a  few  feet  of  me,  trying  to  steal 
something. 

9  A  .M. —  I  am  sitting  on  a  mass  of  winter  snow,  under  a  clump 
of  pines  in  rich  foliage.  The  robins  are  warbling,  the  cowslips  in 
full  bloom;  no  sand,  but  luxuriant  soil.  I  started  a  little  before 
seven,  passing  up  this  lovely  canon,  five  hundred  feet  above  the 
river,  with  thousands  of  feet  still  above  me.  Such  fantastic  rocks, 
—  likenesses  of  walruses,  elephants,  grizzlies,  and  a  perfect  bust  of 
Socrates  !  And  such  grass  !  Look  at  pony,  how  he  feasts  beside 
the  cowslips  !     And  the  fragrance  of  the  mountain  air !     Perhaps 


Adventures  by  the    Way.  91 

there  will  be  a  railroad  here  before  ten  years,  and  then  the  world 
will  see  its  beauty  and  grandeur. 

9.30  A.M. —  I  am  now  on  the  centre  of  the  vertebra  of  the  con- 
tinent. At  my  feet,  the  waters  flow  east  and  west.  For  the  first 
time,  the  vast  western  world  breaks  upon^jne,  as  to  Balboa. 

I  P.M. —  Descending  the  precipitous  banks  of  the  Chama,  I 
have  left  the  regions  of  early  spring.  Here  the  woods  are  in  full 
leaf.  Some  of  the  way,  the  valley  is  a  mile  or  two  wide,  and 
fringed  with  trees  far  up  the  mountain.  The  waters  are  roaring 
and  dashing,  just  as  they  "  come  down  at  Lodore."  In  all  my 
enjoyment  of  natural  scenery,  I  never  had  so  much  crowded  into 
one  day.  If  the  seasons  were  two  months  longer,  and  a  little 
warmer,  this  would  be  a  garden  spot.  The  soil  is  unsurpassed, 
very  different  from  the  barren  sands  of  San  Luis  Park.  Here  are 
little  cherry-trees  full  of  blossom-buds. 

I  overtook  a  man  half  a  mile  back,  and  asked  if  he  had  anything 
to  eat.  He  was  dressing  a  sheep.  He  said  he  would  camp  half 
a  mile  ahead,  and  give  me  some  dinner.  He  has  come  up  with 
his  two  boys,  and  herd  of  horses  and  cattle.  He  is  to  take  the 
"  cut  off "  to  Pagosa  Springs.  So  I  will  keep  with  him,  as  he  has 
a  tent  and  covered  wagon. 

June  6. —  A  pot-pie  for  supper,  and  another  good  meal  this 
morning !  We  reached  the  "  cut  off "  last  night ;  but  a  flock  of 
sheep  had  crossed  and  recrossed  there,  so  that  it  was  impossible 
to  find  a  road. 

I  left  my  friends  before  seven  o'clock  this  morning,  and,  after 
wandering  more  than  an  hour,  crossed  the  boiling  waters  of  the 
Chama,  and  at  last  struck  the  dimmest  road  imaginable.  I  saw 
a  Mexican  herding  sheep,  who  motioned  to  me  from  the  hillside 
where  he  had  his  flock.  I  waited  for  him  to  come  up.  He  bowed, 
and  we  shook  hands.  I  could  not  understand  a  word  but  "  to- 
bacco." I  shook  my  head,  and  showed  my  teeth,  to  let  him  see 
I  did  not  use  it. 

At  4  P.M.,  I  stopped  to  bait  pony.  I  tried  to  eat,  but  was  not 
hungry.     I  pressed  on,  and  at  length  my  heart  leaped  at  the  sight 


92  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

of  two  freighters'  wagons  coming  down  into  the  valley.  They 
said  I  had  saved  thirty  miles  by  this  "  cut  off."  They  had  bought 
a  sheep  of  a  Mexican  for  three  plugs  of  tobacco,  costing  twenty- 
five  cents.  We  camped  at  the  first  water,  built  a  great  fire,  and 
had  a  good  supper. 

ytme  7. —  I  left  my  kind  friends  before  eight  o'clock,  passed 
down,  down,  and  over  another  swiftly  flowing  river,  and  at  3  P.M. 
reached  Pagosa  Springs.  Here  is  a  good  bridge  over  the  San 
Juan.  There  are  no  high  mountains  in  the  vicinity,  but  the  bluffs 
are  about  a  mile  apart.  I  strolled  up  the  east  side  of  the  river 
a  mile  to  the  springs.  In  the  distance,  I  saw  what  seemed  a  log 
heap  burning,  from  the  smoke  ;  and,  walking  on,  heard  the  rustling, 
gurgling  sound  of  the  vast  cauldron.  Imagine  a  nearly  circular 
body  of  water,  about  forty  feet  across,  boiling  up  a  steel  blue 
through  the  centre  and  around  the  edge.  You  can  look  down 
some  twenty  feet  in  the  centre.  A  film  seems  formed,  but  the 
waters  are  perfectly  pure,  with  a  strong  odor  of  sulphur  and  soda. 
No  one  dares  to  get  into  the  central  chasm.  The  water  would  blis- 
ter, or  boil  an  Q.gg.  But  about  the  edge  there  are  sink-holes,  three 
or  four  feet  deep,  in  which  you  may  let  the  water,  so  as  to  have  it 
cooler.  For  a  space  of  forty  rods  square,  the  rocks  seem  perfo- 
rated with  holes,  through  which  the  waters  flow  in  all  directions. 
A  small  brook  pours  into  the  San  Juan  from  a  dozen  channels. 
Puffs  of  steam  rise  over  almost  all  the  ground.  What  a  sanita- 
rium!    It  would  bathe  the  nation,  if  all  the  water  was  utilized. 

Here  come  two  Utes,  with  bows  and  arrows,  to  see  me  write. 
They  bathe  with  their  pappooses  nearly  all  the  time. 

June  8. —  I  rose  early,  and  walked  along  the  beautiful  banks  of 
the  river.  The  tents  of  the  Ute  Indians  were  stretched  along  the 
bluffs  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  looking  very  romantic, 
their  ponies  feeding,  and  their  flocks  of  sheep  and  goats  near  by. 
The  springs  sent  up  a  dense  steam  in  the  cool  morning  air.  The 
Warm  Springs  in  North  Carolina  do  not  compare  with  these. 
The  government  retains  the  ownership,  one  mile  square.     There 


Guest  of  Indians  and  ''^Freighters'  93 

are  no  accommodations  whatever.  I  had  a  charming  bath,  though 
my  pit-hole  was  most  too  hot. 

I  had  a  nice  breakfast, —  ham  and  eggs,  goat's  milk,  furnished 
by  the  Indians.  These  mountaineers  will  not  take  a  cent  for  any- 
thing. When  I  went  to  catch  my  pony,  I  saw  a  man  fishing.  He 
drew  out  the  largest  mountain  trout  I  ever  saw,  a  speckled  beauty, 
of  over  two  pounds,  that  made  my  mouth  water. 

Now  I  am  in  another  of  the  smiling  valleys,  sweet  as  the  fields 
of  Paradise,  a  green  lawn,  uncropt,  bordered  with  hills  covered 
with  yellow  pines,  and  above  all  the  deep  blue  sky,  with  great 
white  rolling  clouds.  Pony  walks  about,  monarch  of  all  this 
wealth  of  grass.  I  laugh,  when  I  think  that  at  first  I  dared  not 
let  go  his  rope,  for  fear  he  would  run  away.  .  .  .  Had  dinner  with 
some  freighters,  of  mutton  and  warm  bread.  At  six,  reached  the 
Rio  Piedra,  a  lovely  stream,  breaking  through  the  wild  mountains. 
I  crossed  the  bridge,  and  rode  up  to  a  log  cabin,  without  floor, 
window,  or  door ;  and  here  was  a  woman,  the  first  I  had  seen  since 
leaving  Conejos,  save  the  Ute  squaws.  Her  husband  has  taken 
a  claim  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  reaching  to  the  Ute  reser- 
vation south  of  us.  He  has  planted  wheat,  oats,  potatoes,  and  has 
some  stock.     They  are  Danes,  have  a  Danish  Bible. 

June  9. —  I  sit  by  this  sparkling  river,  and,  under  the  grand  old 
pine-trees,  amid  the  awful  grandeur  of  the  mountains,  which  shut 
in  this  valley, —  not  more  than  forty  rods  wide, —  have  a  precious 
Sabbath  of  meditation  and  rest. 

June  10, —  I  left  the  quiet  home  of  Mr.  Peterson  this  morning. 
My  ride  has  been  up  and  down  the  mountains  all  the  way.  I  have 
stopped  in  a  park,  surrounded  with  large  pines,  under  one  of  which 
I  am  resting,  while  pony  takes  to  the  luxuriant  grass.  The  robins 
are  warbling,  as  usual.  The  Rocky  Mountains  are  avast  home  for 
this  most  delightful  of  American  birds.  I  reach  the  Pinas  River 
to-day,  and  to-morrow  Las  Animas. 

June  II. —  I  went  to  Animas, —  a  town  of  some  fifty  raw-looking 
houses, —  hoping  to  organize  a  church  ;  but,  finding  the  field  occu- 


94  Memoirs  of  Joseph    W.  Pickett. 

pied  by  a  Presbyterian  minister,  I  bade  him  God-speed,  and  left 
immediately.  Learning  afso  that  Lake  City  and  Ouray  were 
supplied,  which  I  had  in  mind,  I  shall  not  go  there. 

June  12. —  I  stopped  for  dinner  with  some  freighters,  to  whom 
I  had  shown  a  kindness.  They  had  a  loaded  wagon  and  a  span 
of  mules.  One  man  stood  with  the  lines  and  whip,  and  the  other 
with  a  club.  They  ran  the  mules  half-way  up  the  hill,  pounding 
every  step.  Then  the  mules  would  stop,  and  the  wagon  would 
run  back  to  the  foot  of  the  hill.  This  they  tried  over  several 
times,  till  the  mules  were  discouraged.  I  was  a-  little  provoked, 
and  said,  "You  are  not  working  it  right,  pushing  the  mules  so 
rapidly.  Take  it  more  slowly."  But  the  driver  said,  "  You  must 
rush  them,  or  they  will  not  go  at  all."  Now  I  said,  "You  drive, 
and  we  will  push."  We  got  half-way  up.  The  mules  stopped.  I 
clapped  a  great  stone  under  the  hind  wheel,  and  held  the  wagon. 
The  mules  rested  a  few  moments,  and  then  took  the  load  to 
the  top. 

I  spent  the  night  with  Lewis  Carson.  He  has.  a  nice  little  farm 
in  the  valley,  keeps  fifteen  cows,  sells  his  butter  at  fifty  cents 
a  pound.  All  kinds  of  vegetables  find  a  ready  market  in  the 
mining  camps.  A  short  time  since,  Mr.  Carson  killed  a  black 
bear.  A  neighbor's  boy  reported  an  old  bear,  with  two  cubs,  on 
the  mountain-side.  He  took  his  rifle,  went  up  within  shooting 
range,  and  put  a  ball  right  through  it.  The  old  bear  did  not  die 
immediately,  but  stood  upon  its  hind  legs,  walking  around  to  see 
what  could  be  seen,  and  looked  wicked.  The  bear  started  after 
Mr.  Carson.  The  dog  pitched  in.  The  bear  started  to  run,  and 
went  nearly  to  the  top  of  a  large  pine-tree.  It  then  sickened,  and 
soon  fell  off.  I  saw  the  skin  :  it  was  beautiful.  The  hunters  did 
not  dare  to  look  to  the  cubs  while  the  old  one  was  living,  so  these 
beauties  got  away. 

June  13. —  Alone  in  a  quiet  little  park  on  the  Animas,  fifteen 
miles  from  Silverton.  Around  me  are  the  lofty  summits,  covered 
with  perpetual  snow,  white  and  pure.    The  music  of  the  dashing, 


Silverton.  95 

thundering  Animas  fills  the  valley.  This  morning  has  revealed 
the  most  wild  and  rugged  scenery  I  'liave  yet  witnessed,  but  not 
the  most  beautiful.  The  Needle  Mountain,  a  sharp  peak  of  solid 
rock,  too  sharp  for  snow  to  rest  on  near  the  summit,  is  right  be- 
fore me,  well  known  for  its  choice  silver.  How  grandly  the  great 
clouds  roll  above  it  in  this  wonderful  azure ! 

Silverton^  June  14, —  Here  at  last!  After  writing  yesterday,  I 
moved  slowly  on.  Eight  miles  from  town,  the  wagon-road  stopped. 
Then  came  such  a  trail, —  rocks,  rocks  !  Sometimes  I  clung  to  the, 
mountain-side,  fearful  pony  would  make  a  misstep,  and  go  to  the 
bottom.  Do  not  fear  for  me.  I  walk  in  such  places.  I  reached 
here  at  8.30  P.M.,  having  been  on  the  road  since  before  seven  in 
the  morning, —  so  long  coming  twenty-eight  and  a  half  miles.  The 
fading  light  of  lingering  day  was  silvering  the  snow  upon  the 
mountains,  the  stars  were  shining,  and  the  moon  pouring  a  flood 
of  light  into  the  valley,  as  I  entered  the  town. 

At  the  hotel,  the  landlord  said  he  would  take  my  horse  to  a 
stable.  I  said  I  would  go  along,  and  found  there  was  not  a  morsel 
of  hay  in  town.  Fed  him  four  quarts  of  corn,  and  turned  him  out 
on  the  commons,  which  are  very  poor  picking.  I  brought  him  in 
this  morning,  gave  him  another  four  quarts,  and  turned  him  out 
again.     Only  a  dollar  and  a  half  for  a  peck  of  corn  ! 

The  field  seems  open.  There  is  no  religious  organization  or 
Sunday-school.  The  town  is  on  the  banks  of  this  remarkable 
Animas  River,  has  two  hundred  buildings  of  rough  boards  and 
logs.  One  or  two  fronts  are  painted.  Mines  are  in  every  direction 
on  the  mountain-sides.  Snow  in  the  ravines  comes  clear  down  to 
the  level  space  on  which  the  town  is  located. 

June  16. —  It  was  snowing  hard  this  morning;  snow  several 
inches  deep.  Soon  it  began  to  melt ;  the  streets  almost  impassable. 
I  went  out  to  the  suburbs  for  the  key  to  the  school  house.  There 
were  no  kindlings  to  build  a  fire,  but  got  some  at  a  house  near  by. 
A  dozen  were  present;  three  v/omen.     We  had  excellent  singing. 

In  the  afternoon,  I  walked  up  the  mountain-side  to  a  quiet  re- 


96  Memoirs  of  Joseph    W.  Pickett. 

treat  beneath  some  fir-trees,  and  poured  forth  my  soul  in  prayer 
for  this  city.  I  recalled  one  after  another  of  the  promises,  and  my 
soul  was  refreshed.  I  came  down,  walked  through  town,  stopped 
where  there  were  crowds  in  front  of  several  gambling  saloons,  and 
asked  them  to  church  in  the  evening.  I  remembered  what  a  time 
I  had  with  the  lights  at  Pueblo.  So  I  went  to  the  school-house, 
built  a  fire,  borrowed  the  oil-can  and  shears  at  my  boarding-place, 
trimmed  the  lamps,  and  had  all  ready  for  evening.  The  snow  was 
now  gone,  and  the  streets  almost  dry.  I  went  over  a  little  before 
eight  o'clock.  No  one  there  yet ;  but  soon  they  came  pouring  in. 
Benches  were  extemporized  and  brought  in ;  but  all  could  not  be 
accommodated.  After  preaching,  I  told  them  of  my  coming  to  the 
State,  of  my  object,  of  my  anxiety  for  this  community,  and  of  a 
friend  who  had  just  finished  his  studies  at  Yale  Theological  Semi- 
nary, and  who,  I  thought,  would  like  to  give  his  life  to  the  work  of 
Christ  here.  I  also  spoke  of  the  importance  of  a  reading-room. 
I  asked  for  an  expression,  a  showing  of  hands,  from  those  who 
wished  me  to  send  for  Mr.  Roberts ;  and  nearly  every  one  voted 
for  his  coming.  I  appointed  a  prayer-meeting  and  a  meeting  for 
organizing  a  Sabbath-school.  A  church  cannot  now  be  organized 
to  advantage.  There  are  a  few  persons  of  various  denominations. 
A  minister  must  cement  the  elements :  then  they  will  be  ready  to 
organize. 

Jime  17. —  I  was  called  to  attend  the  funeral  of  a  professional 
gambler.  He  was  gambling  Thursday.  The  next  day  he  was 
found  in  a  small  stream  in  the  mountains,  with  severe  cuts  in  his 
head;  the  first  death  by  violence  in  this  place.  The  gamblers 
bought  a  coffin  for  him,  and  were  the  pall-bearers.  We  buried 
him  in  a  romantic  place.  The  river  sparkled  by  us,  and  the  great 
mountains  seemed  to  bare  their  heads  over  our  wayward  and  sin- 
ful race. 

June  18. —  Come  with  me  in  my  walk  before  breakfast  up  Anvil 
Mountain.  Right  back  of  the  house,  we  are  up  a  hundred  feet. 
It  was  steep !     Stop  on  this  plateau.     Look  into  what  was  once 


Anvil  and  Hazelton  Mountain.  97 

Baker's  Park,  now  Silverton,  at  our  feet ;  and  on  the  other  side, 
half  a  mile  away,  the  Animas.  Beyond  rise  abruptly  the  majestic 
mountains.  A  little  way  up  is  timber  line,  and  then  awful  rugged- 
ness,  snow  and  rock.  How  the  morning  sun  pours  into  this  side- 
hill  !  Look  at  the  aspens, —  see  their  fresh  leaves.  In  ten  minutes, 
we  can  walk  up  to  where  they  are  just  budding.  See  the  delicate 
flowers, —  here  a  little  fern,  and  there  a  strawberry  in  full  bloom  ; 
yes,  a  number  of  them  among  these  rough  rocks.  Look  at  those 
chipmuks,  such  as  we  used  to  see  in  childhood  in  Ohio.  How 
they  play  amid  the  rocks  !  A  dozen  are  in  plain  sight.  And  the 
robins, —  we  thank  God  that  they  are  here  to  make  it  so  home- 
like. How  sweetly  they  fill  this  sparkling  air  with  melody!  But 
up  we  go,  and  pause  beneath  the  dark  pine.  Here  we  stop  at  this 
great  stone,  my  altar  of  prayer.  I  pray  for  loved  ones,  for  this 
city,  for  the  gamblers,  for  all ;  then,  from  these  lofty  heights,  I 
pray  for  my  field,  for  Iowa,  for  our  nation  and  the  world,  that 
Christ's  kingdom  may  come.  But  the  great  heights  still  tower 
far  above  us,  and  we  must  go  down. 

I  went  three  miles  to  visit  the  miners  on  Hazelton  Mountain, — 
one  of  the  richest  silver  mines  in  the  vicinity, —  passed  up  the 
Animas,  and  took  a  trail  almost  to  the  summit.  The  first  mine  I 
entered  was  the  Aspen.  The  foreman  Ht  a  candle  and  took  me 
into  the  shaft,  which  runs  straight  into  the  side  of  the  mountain. 
We  went  on  and  on,  many  hundred  feet,  and  came  to  the  men,  who 
were  following  a  bright  vein  of  silver-bearing  rock,  about  two 
inches  thick,  in  the  solid  granite.  They  were  working,  clinging  to 
that  little  vein.  I  had  a  pleasant  chat  with  them.  They  have  no 
religious  privileges.  Plans  are  running  through  my  mind  of  a 
reading-room  in  town,  and  of  gathering  papers  to  send  out  in 
packages  to  the  mining  camps  every  week. 

June  2.2. —  From  my  door,  looking  eastward,  the  vast  Hazelton 
Mountain  rises  before  me,  covered  with  snow,  with  a  strip  of  deep 
blue  sky;  above,  a  pure  white  cloud  stands  out  from  the  deep 
blue, —  and  all  so  near!     Each  look  is  an  inspiration.     You  can 

covered  with  trees  to  the  timber 


93  Memoirs  of  Joseph    W.  Pickett. 

line.  They  are  only  half  a  mile  away,  so  that  you  can  see  every 
limb  and  leaf  almost.  The  weather  is  superb.  I  expected,  with 
snow  on  the  mountains,  and  some  drifts  not  yet  gone,  I  should  be 
very  chilly,  but  not  at  all.  Walked  to  Pickett's  Hill  this  afternoon, 
and  studied  on  my  sermons.  I  saw  from  the  hill  the  mail  coming 
on  a  mule  ;  mail-bags  piled  high,  with  the  carrier  on  a  horse  be- 
hind. You  would  laugh  to  see  these  trains  of  donkeys,  now  loaded 
with  dry-goods  boxes  till  you  cannot  see  mule,  now  a  hardware 
merchant  with  stoves,  now  with  ladies'  large  trunks.  The  patient 
things  !     We  could  do  little  in  the  mountains  without  them. 

Jtme  23. —  Preached,  and  organized  a  Sunday-school,  and  lect- 
ured on  the  two  books.  Nature  and  Revelation. 

June  27. —  Last  night  I  started  the  fire  at  the  school-house  for 
prayer-meeting ;  took  over  lamps,  and,  with  all  comfortable,  had 
an  excellent  meeting.  Went  up  Anvil  Mountain  this  morning  to 
the  summit,  and  had  a  good  wholesome  day  in  the  silence  of  the 
fir  forest.  Read  Deuteronomy  nearly  through  amid  these  scenes  of 
awful  grandeur. 

Jime  29. —  A  white  frost  every  night ;  but  the  weather  continues 
magnificent.  No  winds  in  this  quiet  retreat,  not  a  particle  of  dust. 
I  see  a  growing  interest  in  spiritual  things.  Made  pleasant  calls 
all  the  afternoon,  yesterday.  Had  talks  with  Catholics  and 
infidels,  and  was  always  treated  respectfully.  I  saw  one  miner 
wipe  the  tears  from  his  eyes  with  his  great,  rough  hand,  as  I  talked 
with  him. 

June  30. —  The  Sabbath  dawned  beautifully.  I  built  a  fire  for 
church  early.  We  had  a  house  full.  At  night,  I  got  more  seats  ; 
but  the  crowd  pressed  in,  packing  every  part  of  the  house. 

July  7. —  Nearly  every  child  in  town  in  the  Sunday-school. 
The  gamblers  of  the  Jockey  Club  brought  me  fifty-three  dollars  to 
purchase  a  Sunday-school  library, —  money  left  from  the  festivities 
of  the  Fourth. 


Importance  of  Christian  Union.  99 

Mr.  Pickett  regarded  his  first  efforts  in  planting 
religious  institutions  in  his  new  field  with  peculiar 
interest,  especially  as  a  test  of  his  cherished  plan  for 
uniting  persons  of  different  .denominations  in  new 
towns  in  one  organization.  It  is  obviously  impracti- 
cable to  sustain  several  denominational  organizations 
in  a  small  town  far  separated  from  other  communities. 
Division  in  such  circumstances  is  weakness  and  dis- 
honor. By  the  congregational  idea  of  gathering  the 
whole  Christian  element  in  one  church,  he  hoped  to 
solve  a  difficult  problem  in  the  evangelization  of  our 
country,  and  raise  up  churches  to  support  their  own 
religious  institutions.  To  sustain  churches  of  the 
various  denominations  in  the  smaller  towns  and  mining 
camps  would  impose  a  continual  drain  upon  Eastern 
churches,  and  be  disastrous  to  the  communities  them- 
selves. Hence,  he  asked  Christians  of  all  names  in 
these  places  to  unite  on  a  simple,  evangelical  basis, 
upon  which  all  could  agree,  and  to  regulate  their  own 
affairs,  free  from  extraneous  control.  He  promised 
them  the  hearty  sympathy  and  aid  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Churches  of  our  country,  who,  he  told  them, 
**  would  rejoice  more  in  seeing  these  communities  walk- 
ing in  the  freedom  of  the  gospel  than  in  the  possession 
of  all  ecclesiastical  power  over  them.  We  have  no 
peculiar  body  of  men  or  peculiar  form  of  creed  or  large 
establishments  of  vested  interests  to  tighten  the  bands 
of  ecclesiastical  control,  but  a  form  of  government,  and 
a  simple  evangelical  faith,  which  place  in  one  brother- 
hood all  of  Christ's  followers,  leaving  great  freedom 
for  wide  and  varied  co-operation." 


lOO  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett, 

In  accordance  with  the  request  of  the  people,  he 
procured  ministers  for  South  Pueblo  and  Silverton, 
who  at  once  entered  upon  their  work.  The  Arkansas 
Valley  and  the  new  camp  at  Leadville  now  called  for 
his  labors,  and  he  wanted  to  go  thither ;  but,  in  view  of 
the  great  destitution  in 

THE    BLACK    HILLS, 

he  went  immediately  to  a  survey  of  that  field.  Taking 
a  coach  at  Cheyenne,  on  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  he 
travelled,  almost  due  north,  some  three  hundred  miles, 
to  Deadwood.  Two  hundred  miles  of  the  journey  were 
across  vast  and  romantic  plains,  with  here  and  there 
rugged  rocks  and  bluffs  worn  into  fantastic  shapes. 
The  last  hundred  miles  are  mainly  through  the  Hills, 
almost  to  their  northern  extremity.  To  the  eastward, 
the  plains  stretch  several  hundred  miles  to  the  Missouri 
River,  on  the  north  beyond  Bismarck,  and  on  the  west 
to  the  Big  Horn  Mountains. 

From  out  this  vast  plain  has  risen,  apparently  by 
a  single  convulsion  of  nature,  the  Black  Hills,  con- 
sisting of  igneous  and  metamorphic  rocks,  thrown  up 
almost  perpendicularly,  forming  a  mineral  belt,  some 
twenty  miles  wide  and  eighty  miles  in  length,  contain- 
ing deposits  of  gold  and  silver.  The  country  consists 
of  a  succession  of  romantic  hills  and  valleys,  covered 
with  dense  forests  of  yellow  pine,  which  give  the  Hills 
their  dark  hue  and  name.  In  the  valleys  are  deciduous 
trees, —  such  as  ash,  elm,  iron-wood,  and  oak, —  and  in 
many  places. a  profusion  of  flowers.     Here  were  gath- 


Among  Robbers.  loi 

ered  some  twenty  thousand  people,  the  centre  of  popu- 
lation being  near  the  northern  boundary,  in  the  vicinity 
of  Deadwood.  Here,  gulch-mining  was  begun  in  1874  ; 
and  a  town  has  risen,  full  of  business  enterprise. 

From  a  survey  of  the  field,  Mr.  Pickett  was  deeply 
impressed  with  its  importance.  On  his  return,  being 
detained  by  high  water  at  Jenney's  Stockade,  July  24, 
he  devoted  the  day  to  prayer  for  the  Hills,  when  the 
work  that  he  was  to  do  there  came  to  his  mind  in  vivid 
and  distinct  outline,  so  that  the  accomplishment  of  it 
scarcely  made  the  facts  clearer  than  they  then  appeared 
in  vision. 

After  dark  of  this  day,  he  took  the  coach  for  Chey- 
enne. He  was  the  only  passenger,  and  rode  inside  for 
the  first  ten  miles,  when,  weary  of  the  loneliness  and 
the  jolting,  he  got  outside  with  the  driver,  who  was 
glad  of  company  in  a  region  where  several  robberies 
had  recently  been  committed,  and  who  had  been  driv- 
ing a  few  weeks  before,  when  three  men  were  shot. 
They  passed  that  spot  at  midnight,  and  soon  after 
where  another  driver  had  been  shot  the  previous  sea- 
son. They  came  on  through  ''  Robbers'  Roost,"  and 
were  within  two  miles  of  the  station  at  *'  Old  Woman's 
Fork,"  when,  as  the  horses  were  walking  up  a  rather 
steep  rise,  a  voice  from  the  left  front  said,  "  Hold  up 
there  ! "  and  six  masked  men  sprung  up,  and  levelled 
rifles  on  them.  Mr.  Pickett  immediately  said,  "  Gen- 
tlemen, you  are  in  poor  luck  to-night.  Only  two  on 
board, —  the  driver  and  a  preacher."  The  response 
was,  "Get  down  from  there!"     As  he  got  down,  the 


102  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

rain  which  had  been  collecting  on  his  hat  commenced 
running  off.  He  raised  his  hands  to  take  off  his  hat, 
which  they  thought  a  move  for  his  pistols,  and  pointed 
their  guns  on  him.  He  did  not  pretend  to  notice  them, 
but  gave  his  hat  several  vigorous  shakes.  As  he  put  it 
on,  the  leader  asked,  *'  How  much  money  have  you  } " 
"  Three  or  four  dollars,"  was  the  reply.  "  Is  that  all  V 
said  the  leader.  "I  guess  I  have  about  that,"  answered 
Mr.  Pickett.  Seeing  the  rifles  pointed  at  him,  he  said 
that  he  had  no  fire-arms,  and  never  carried  any,  when 
they  pointed  away  from  him.  It  was  now  raining 
harder,  and  he  said,  ^'  Driver,  it  is  raining  so  hard  that 
I  will  not  get  on  with  you,  but  will  get  inside,  as  soon 
as  these  gentlemen  will  let  us  off."  At  this,  the  leader 
said,  "  Get  in  there  !  "  Mr.  Pickett  thanked  him,  and 
entered  the  coach.  The  robbers  then  threw  out  the 
mail-bags,  and,  touching  Mr.  Pickett's  valise,  asked 
pleasantly,  **  Is  this  your  valise  }  "  ''  Yes,"  said  he, 
"valise  and  blanket."  ''What  have  you  in  it  t  "  "Some 
clothes,  shirts,  and  a  Bible."  It  was  their  last  word 
with  him  ;  and  he  sat  for  half  an  hour  looking  on  the 
robbers,  as  they  poured  out  the  contents  of  the  mail- 
bags.  They  kept  the  registered  letters,  tore  open 
those  supposed  to  have  money,  put  the  others  back, 
and  handed  the  bags  to  him,  which  he  took,  and  laid 
down.  Then,  after  breaking  open  the  express-box, 
they  said,  "  Go  on  !  " 

At  home  for  a  few  days,  he  enjoyed  a  view  of  the 
total  eclipse  of  the  sun  in  the  clear  air  on  July  29,  and 
departed  on  the  5th  of  August,  to  prosecute  his  mission 
in  the  Black  Hills. 


Sixty -six  Hours  of  Staging.  103 

Aug.  9,  1878. —  On  we  go,  night  and  day ;  the  coach  full.  I  had 
to  sit  upright.  It  made  me  ache  at  times.  An  army  officer  was 
with  us,  going  to  Fort  Laramie.  He  looked  half-drunk,  when  he 
got  aboard.  He  drank  at  every  station.  After  midnight,  he  was 
very  sick,  threw  up  his  bands  with  a  terrific  groan,  as  in  a  fit.  He 
thought  we  were  attacked  by  train-robbers.  A  fat  woman  in  front 
of  him  was  greatly  frightened.  We  cried  to  the  driver  to  hold  up. 
We  soon  dragged  the  officer  out  on  the  ground,  that  he  might  lie 
horizontally.  It  was  some  twenty  minutes  before  he  "  came  to." 
He  knew  nothing,  when  we  lifted  him  in.  Such  national  defend- 
ers !  .  .  .  For  the  last  thirty  miles,  we  have  been  among  low  hills. 
You  never  saw  flowers  so  plenty  and  beautiful,  even  on  the  prairies 
of  Iowa. 

Jefineys  Stockade^  Wyoming  Territory^  August  10.  —  We 
reached  here  at  10  A.M.  Our  passengers  were  much  excited 
last  night,  gave  their  money  and  watches  to  the  driver,  and  all 
came  inside.  But  it  was  so  crowded  I  went  outside  till  one 
o'clock  this  morning.  As  the  driver  said,  "This  would  be  a 
place  for  the  road-agents,"  as  the  robbers  are  called,  I  thought  of 

the  verses :  — 

"  He  shall  cover  thee  with  his  feathers, 
And  under  his  wings  shalt  thou  trust." 

We  are  all  thoroughly  tired.     The  fat  lady  is  smaller. 

II  P.M. —  At  Deadwood,  after  sixty-six  hours  of  terrible  jolting. 

Lead  City ^  Dakota  Territory^  Augtist  17. —  Off  to  the  hills  away, 
looking  down  on  two  cities  !  Then,  treading  the  ridge  for  a  quarter 
of  a  mile,  I  came  to  the  highest  summit  of  rocks.  Here  I  sat  for 
an  hour,  pondering,  meditating. 

The  woodpeckers  were  crowing  in  the  old  dead  trees.  The 
little  chip-squirrels  were  lively.     Two  came  up  to  visit  me. 

"  They  are  so  unacquainted  with  man, 
Their  tameness  'tis  shocking  to  see." 

The  little  fellows  came  near,  bobbed  away  again;   touched  my 
boot,  away  again ;  then  up  my  leg,  into  my  lap,  on  my  Bible,  and 


104  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

commenced  nibbling  my  fingers.  At  this,  I  stirred  a  little.  Off 
they  whirled  in  a  moment. 

Near  a  high  ledge,  I  found  a  cave,  into  which  I  went  some  forty 
feet.  It  smelled  so  strong  of  old  Bruin  that  I  felt  really  ticklish. 
There  was  a  nest  of  leaves,  and  the  unmistakable  bear  smell.  But 
no  bears  are  found  here  now.  The  smell  must  have  remained  for 
a  year  or  two. 

I  saw  yesterday  a  splendid  specimen  of  gold  ore  in  rotten 
quartz.  It  weighed  two  pounds,  and  contained  about  eighty 
dollars'  worth  of  gold.  The  free  gold  was  all  through  it.  I  took 
a  stroll  among  the  mines  and  mills,  and  saw  the  great  iron  stamps 
come  down  on  the  ore,  and  crush  it.  One  mill  has  eighty  of  these 
stamps.     They  make  a  fearful  racket. 

August  26. —  The  past  week  has  been  one  of  unremitting  but 
hopeful  labor.  I  have  visited  nearly  every  house  and  miner's 
cabin  in  the  town,  and  been  cordially  received.  One  day  I  spent 
eight  hours  in  steady  calling.  The  work  is  the  greatest  I  may 
ever  have  in  my  mountain  field.  Silverton  is  completely  dwarfed 
by  it.  One  week  ago  last  Sabbath,  a  committee  was  chosen  of 
four  reliable  citizens,  formerly  members  of  Baptist,  Methodist, 
Presbyterian,  and  Congregational  churches,  to  prepare  a  Constitu- 
tion and  Articles  of  Faith,  which  would  be  acceptable  to  all 
evangelical  believers.  They  agreed  upon  articles  of  faith,  and 
prepared  a  Constitution,  by  which  the  church  is  to  manage  its 
own  affairs,  and  at  the  same  time  be  connected  with  the  Congre- 
gational churches  of  the  country,  because  in  so  doing  it  may 
maintain  its  freedom,  while  joined  for  aid  and  sympathy  with 
a  body  that  is  universally  known  for  liberality  of  Christian  senti- 
ment. The  Constitution  and  Articles  were  adopted  with  great 
harmony.  Last  evening  twenty-one  persons  united  in  the  organi- 
zation, and  in  a  crowded  house,  in  the  theatre,  covenanted  with 
each  other  to  lift  up  the  standard  of  the  cross  in  this  needy  city. 
Resolutions  were  passed,  requesting  me  to  secure  a  minister.  It 
was  the  first  effort  here  at  Christian  organization.  In  fact,  I  am 
the  first  minister  to  preach  a  sermon  in  this  town  of  two  thousand 


Society  in  Deadwood.  105 

inhabitants.  Nearly  one-half  of  the  members  are  ladies,  who  will 
be  very  helpful. 

Sabbath  morning  I  preached  at  Deadwood  to  a  full  house, — 
a  very  intelHgent  audience.  The  need  of  a  minister  there  is  also 
imperative.  There  is  no  field  in  our  whole  country  where  the 
demand  is  so  pressing.  I  wish  I  had  the  ear  of  all  our  churches, 
to  tell  them  what  a  work  God  is  throwing  upon  us  to-day.  The 
Christian  element  in  these  mountain  towns  must  be  united  in 
churches  free  from  denominational  control.  This  is  the  special 
work  of  the  Congregational  churches.  We  can  harmonize  this 
element  as  no  other  denomination  can. 

A  sorry  lot  of  passengers  came  in  at  Deadwood  the  other  night. 
They  were  robbed  six  miles  of  where  we  were  robbed.  There 
were  three  robbers.  They  made  seven  passengers  hold  up  their 
hands,  which  they  tied  behind  them,  except  the  two  women,  whose 
stockings  they  slipped  down,  and  took  out  money  about  the  ankles. 
They  got  a  watch  and  some  three  hundred  dollars.  The  mail  was 
robbed,  not  so  carefully  as  the  other  time,  but  strewn  all  about. 

I  made  a  number  of  calls  in  Deadwood,  and  found  some  culti- 
vated, excellent  women,  with  tasteful  homes  and  flowers  and 
mosses.  How  soon  the  hand  of  refinement  will  deck  these  wild 
hills  with  the  evidences  of  culture ! 

I  visited  the  Chinese  quarter.  Went  into  one  of  the  opium 
dens,  and  saw  pipes  and  opium  in  abundance,  and  a  beautiful 
little  Chinese  girl,  about  three  years  old,  jabbering  in  Chinese  like 
a  race-horse.  The  Chinamen  bought  her  in  San  Francisco  for 
one  hundred  dollars. 

The  other  evening,  while  sitting  on  the  piazza,  enjoying  a  dis- 
play of  nature's  pyrotechnics,  a  horseman  rode  up  in  the  drench- 
ing rain,  and  in  a  strong  Irish  accent  inquired  for  me,  asking 
several  times  if  I  was  a  Protestant.  He  wanted  me  to  attend  a 
funeral  in  Central.  A  man's  wife  had  died,  leaving  a  babe.  He 
was  very  poor,  he  said ;  but  they  would  take  a  collection  for 
me.  I  said,  "  No,  my  friend.  I  will  be  glad  to  go  for  nothing, 
and  help  in  the  house  of  sorrow."  So  I  went  in  a  drizzling  rain. 
In  walking  up  the  gulch  to  the  house,  I  saw  a  silver  quarter  in  the 


io6  Memoirs  of  Joseph    W.  Pickett. 

mud.  I  went  into  a  neighbor's  house  to  see  the  babe,  and  pre- 
sented him  with  the  quarter.     The  miners  were  much  pleased. 

Central^  September  2. —  Was  sick  Saturday,  and  did  not  go  out 
all  day.  In  the  cool  of  the  evening,  I  walked  quietly  to  Dead- 
wood.     As  I  was  leaving,  Miss  H left  the  crowded  table  of 

boarders  on  whom  she  was  waiting,  and  slipped  a  silver  dollar 
into  my  hand,  saying  very  low,  "  Do  not  walk,"  and  glided  back  to 
her  table.  What  could  be  more  beautiful  than  such  acts  of 
womanly  kindness.?  They  bring  tears  to  my  eyes.  But  I  pre- 
ferred a  slow  walk,  as  I  had  been  sitting  all  day. 

At  church,  the  house  was  full.  I  invited  those  who  love  the 
Saviour,  members  of  churches,  and  those  who  have  been  from 
home  so  long  they  are  not  sure  of  their  membership,  but  feel  the 
love  of  God  in  their  hearts,  to  communion.  The  stillness  was  re- 
markable.    I  was  surprised  at  the  number  who  communed. 

September  3. —  Went  to  Spearfish  through  deeply  wooded  hills 
and  valleys, —  so  there  is  plenty  of  material  for  building, —  then 
we  suddenly  broke  out  upon  the  prairies,  with  green  hills  in  the 
distance,  rounded  into  varied  forms  of  loveliness  and  beauty.  I 
was  beside  myself  with  delight  at  this  release  from  the  cramped 
gulches,  where  I  have  spent  so  many  weeks.  We  rode  through 
gently  undulating  prairies,  among  farms,  with  wheat  in  stack,  oats 
being  harvested,  fine  gardens,  and  great  fields  of  potatoes.  We 
struck  the  town  of  Spearfish,  on  the  beautiful  little  river  of  that 
name,  about  6  P.M.  I  walked  over  the  town,  and  asked  every 
one  to  get  me  out  a  congregation.  The  little  school-house  was  full 
at  7.30  P.M. 

In  the  night,  what  a  change !  The  wind  north-west ;  foggy, 
drizzling.  I  walked  to  the  river  which  irrigates  the  valley,  and  to 
some  large  springs,  the  waters  of  which  flow  in  a  beautiful  brook 
through  the  town.  There  are  three  small  stores,  two  hotels,  a 
saw-mill,  and  a  flouring-mill  under  way.  There  are  ranches  for 
eight  miles  to  the  Sweet  Water.  Here  will  be  a  Sanitarium  for 
the  Hills.  T  told  them  I  would  come  back,  and  work  over  the 
whole  valley.  How  little  I  knew,  when  shrinking  from  coming, 
that  such  wealth  of  opportunity  was  before  me  ! 


Academy  at  Speai^fish.  107 

September  17.— A  church  organized  in  Central,  with  twenty- 
seven  members. 

September  21. —  A  pleasant  walk  of  seven  miles,  and  two  rides 
(eight  miles)  to  Spearfish.  What  quiet  and  rest  in  the  sweet  fields, 
the  gushing  springs,  and  the  sparkling  river !  Half  a  mile  from 
the  road,  two  men  were  found  hung, —  one  a  butcher  from  Dead- 
wood,  the  other  lived  in  Spearfish.  I  attended  the  funeral  of  the 
latter.  They  were  stealing  cattle,  and  the  ranch-men  found  them. 
They  have  no  sympathy  here.  At  evening,  I  started  down  the 
valley, —  just  a  garden-spot.  When  half-way  to  the  Red  Water, 
the  project  of  an  academy  at  Spearfish  dawned  upon  me.  It 
thrilled  me,  and  I  had  to  speak  of  it.  The  first  man  I  met 
said,  "  Now,  I  will  write  to  my  wife,  and  she  will  come  on  with 
the  children  to  live  here."  Every  one  is  charmed.  It  is  the  only 
place  for  a  project  of  the  kind  in  the  Black  Hills. 

Deadwood,  Septe7nber  26. —  Arranged  for  organizing  a  Bible 
Society  for  the  Black  Hills. 

Spearfish,  September  30. —  I  have  gathered  together  the  Chris- 
tian element,  and  aided  in  organizing  a  church  of  eleven  members. 
On  the  Sabbath,  we  celebrated  the  Lord's  Supper  for  the  first  time 
amid  these  beautiful  surroundings.  About  seven  hundred  dol- 
lars was  subscribed,  without  any  pressure,  at  the  morning  meet- 
ing, for  building  a  church,  increased  to-day  to  one  thousand  and 
twenty-five  dollars. 

I  shall  never  forget  my  first  view  of  this  delightful  valley. 
Rising  in  the  Hills,  the  Spearfish  River  flows  with  great  rapidity 
some  ten  miles  north,  till  it  empties  into  the  Red  Water.  It  forms 
a  valley  about  two  miles  wide,  easily  irrigated,  and  one  of  the 
most  productive  and  romantic,  I  venture  to  say,  in  the  world.  To 
the  westward  extend  lofty  hills  crowned  with  pine  ;  while  to  the 
east,  from  out  the  plain,  rises  Lookout  Mountain,  with  its  slopes 
covered  with  rich  grasses  and  flowers.  Near  where  the  pure 
and  sparkling  waters  flow  from  out  the  hills,  the  town  is  located, 
containing  some  two  hundred  inhabitants,  but  destined  from  its 


io8  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

healthfulness  and  beauty  to  be  a  favorite  resort  for  the  dwellers  in 
the  Hills.  I  passed  down  the  valley,  the  first  minister  who  had 
traversed  it,  visiting  the  ranches  along  its  whole  extent.  Covered 
with  abundance,  it  seemed  a  very  Eden.  Glancing  down  the 
future,  I  saw  this  luxuriant  valley  adorned  with  Christian  homes, 
with  school-houses  at  intervals,  and  happy  children  fitting  for  life's 
duties.  The  health  and  striking  beauty  of  the  place,  the  cheap- 
ness of  living,  the  facilities  for  building,  and  the  opportunity  for 
gathering  miners'  famihes  to  be  educated,  all  impressed  me  as 
favorable  for  planting  an  institution  of  learning  which  should  be 
a  permanent  blessing  to  the  region. 

Deadwoodj  October  9. —  I  called  to  see  the  assayist  at  the  Cali- 
fornia Mine.  He  was  running  a  gold  brick.  The  furnace  was 
white  heat.  With  thick  gloves,  he  opened  the  door,  seized  the 
retort  with  large  tongs,  and  poured  the  contents  into  the  mould. 
The  brick  was  a  beauty.  I  carried  it  around  some  time.  It  was 
all  I  wanted  to  carry.     Worth  about  seven  thousand  dollars. 

The  Congregational  Association  of  the  Black  Hills  was  organ- 
ized October  10,  embracing  the  churches  of  Deadwood,  Lead, 
Central,  and  Spearfish.  Papers  of  a  high  order  of  merit  were  pre- 
sented, and  the  occasion  was  richly  enjoyed.  Said  one  of  the 
delegates,  "Is  it  possible  we  can  have  such  a  gathering  as  this, 
where  recently  was  only  a  howling  wilderness  ?  " 

On  the  evening  of  this  day,  I  learned  that  a  brother  from  Galena, 
a  mining  town  some  ten  miles  east  from  Deadwood,  wished  to  see 
me.  I  accompanied  him  on  his  return  home  the  next  morning, 
and  preached  that  evening,  to  a  crowded  house,  in  the  little  school- 
house.  The  crowd  filled  the  aisle,  and  stood  so  thick  about  me 
that  I  could  scarcely  make  a  gesture.  I  found  a  number  of  intel- 
ligent families  in  this  silver-mining  camp.  They  were  very  de- 
sirous that  I  should  return  and  aid  in  organizing  a  church.  I 
returned  the  following  week,  and  aided  in  uniting  in  church  fellow- 
ship seventeen  persons.  There  was  no  denominational  feeling  in 
any  direction. 

October  I'j. —  I  go  out  of  the  Hills,  from  Galena,  nearly  due 
north  to  Crook  City,  in  an  opposite  direction  from  the  old  route. 


Crook  City  and  Rapid  City.  109 

Mr.  A walked  with  me  a  mile  to  the  top  of  the  hill  over- 
looking the  deep  gulch  of  the  Bear  Butte  Creek,  in  which  Galena 
is  situated.  We  knelt  in  prayer.  I  then  struck  out  on  quite  a 
good  road,  Bible  and  overcoat  in  hand.  The  morning  sun  was 
glorious,  the  deep  pine  woods  beautiful.  Not  a  house  for  eight 
miles.  Now,  I  walk  in  the  valley,  where  there  are  deciduous  trees 
enough  to  remind  me  of  home,  oak -leaves  flying  about ;  now,  on 
the  ridge  of  hills,  looking  off  on  the  plains.  Now  a  chip-squirrel 
clucking  so  leisurely,  now  a  red  squirrel  quacking  as  if  the  welfare 
of  the  universe  depended  on  his  effort.  I  was  saying  all  the  way : 
"What  has  God  wrought?  May  I  never  fail  to  ascribe  all  the 
praise  and  honor  for  what  has  been  done  in  the  Black  Hills  to 
Him  to  whom  it  wholly  belongs  !  May  I  never  forget  God's  ap- 
pearance and  revelation  to  me  at  Jenney's  Stockade  and  in  the 
valley  of  the  Spearfish !  O  Lord,  abide  with  these  churches 
through  many  years  to  come  !  Go  up  with  them  to  spiritual  con- 
quests, and  get  to  thyself  great  glory  in  these  Hills." 

After  walking  about  ten  miles,  I  came  into  hills  and  wide,  grassy 
valleys ;  and,  after  four  miles  more,  to  Crook,  a  small,  dilapidated 
town  on  the  Whitewater,  which  receives  the  Deadwood  Creek,  and 
its  thick,  stamp-mill  stain,  red  as  blood. 

Crook  City,  October  18. —  Called  all  over  town.  Had  crowded 
services.  The  whole  town  seemed  to  come  together,  packing  the 
room.  There  are  only  a  few  Christian  people  here, —  not  ripe  for 
an  organization.  I  talked  freely  with  several,  and  was  surprised 
to  find  their  views  harmonizing  with  mine  as  to  the  peculiar  facili- 
ties of  Congregationalism  to  meet  the  wants  of  these  communities. 

Rapid  City,  October  21.  —  Rode  here,  thirty-five  miles  from 
Crook,  nearly  south,  on  Rapid  Creek  in  the  foot-hills.  Visited  the 
mining  camp  at  Rockerville,  fifteen  miles  south-west,  and  preached 
in  Rapid  on  the  Sabbath.     This  is  on  the  east  side  of  the  Hills. 

Ten  passengers  in  the  coach !  Two  "  road  agents  "  were  on, 
going  to  Cheyenne  for  trial,  shackled  hand  and  foot.  I  looked  at 
them,  wondering  whether  they  were  the  same  who  stopped  me. 
Two  guards  were  along,  heavily  armed.  I  li^d  to  ride  backwards. 
Was  very  sick. 

6 


no  Memoirs  of  Joseph    W.  Pickett. 

After  an  absence  of  eighty  days  from  home,  Mr. 
Pickett  returned  to  Colorado  Springs,  October  25,  and 
was  employed  upon  his  large  correspondence,  in  en- 
deavoring to  procure  suitable  ministers  for  the  churches 
he  had  planted,  in  plans  with  reference  to  other  sec- 
tions of  his  field,  in  attendance  upon  the  meeting  of  the 
Colorado  Association  at  Greeley,  in  reading  and  study, 
and  in  preparation  for  the  labors  of  the  winter.  He 
was  anxious  to  enter  upon  work  in  needy  places  that 
he  had  not  visited.  His  explorations  had  but  touched 
the  eastern  boundary  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  District. 
He  saw  a  vast  region  toward  the  setting  sun  to  be 
occupied.  He  longed  to  help  in  promoting  education 
and  religion  in  Utah  and  New  Mexico.  But  as  the 
wants  of  the  Black  Hills  were  so  urgent,  and  as  he 
could  not  at  once  secure  laborers  for  the  field,  he  de- 
termined himself  to  return  thither.  After  a  hard  and 
weary  journey,  he  took  up  his  work  where  he  had 
left  it. 

Rapid  City.,  Dakota  Territory,  December  %. —  Readied  here  Sat- 
urday, at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Called  on  a  large  number  of 
people  that  day.  Preached  Sabbath  morning  and  evening.  House 
more  than  full  at  night.  We  talked  up  the  matter  of  organization. 
All  were  pleased.  We  appointed  a  committee  of  three  to  look  to 
the  matter. 

Rockerville,  December  12. —  My  room  is  a  large  log  room,  adjoin- 
ing the  hotel,  which  is  also  log.  Two  bunks  are  fastened  up  on 
the  west  side.  The  south  one  is  mine.  The  room  is  so  cold  that 
I  do  not  more  than  half  sleep.  Water  froze  solid.  All  the  houses 
here  are  log.  I  took  a  daylight  walk,  to  look  upon  the  rising  sun. 
Here  we  see  the  magnificent  plains,  more  beautiful  than  where 


Mission  Work  at  Rockerville.  ill 

I  was  in  summer.  No  such  deep  gulleys,  prairie  and  woodland 
about  half  and  half. 

I  called  on  an  old  lady  from  Michigan.  She  looked  coldly  upon 
me,  as  much  as  to  say,  "  What  do  you  want  ? "  I  said,  "  I  am  a 
Congregational  minister,  calling  to  see  what  can  be  done  for  the 
religious  welfare  of  the  community."  Her  face  lightened,  like  the 
sun  breaking  out  of  a  cloud.  She  reached  her  hand  to  me,  and 
said  how  glad  she  was  to  see  me ;  that  she  had  written  her  daugh- 
ter to-day  how  much  a  missionary  was  needed.  I  had  a  very  pleas- 
ant call.  The  evidences  of  refinement  were  all  about, —  a  pretty 
ivy,  a  calla,  an  oleander.  After  calling  through  the  west  part  of 
the  camp,  I  walked  to  the  woods  for  prayer  and  meditation.  It  is 
so  still  here,  no  wind,  the  valley  full  of  oak-trees,  with  pine  all 
about  them.  Ragged,  perpendicular  rocks  spring  up  on  every 
side,  making  the  scenery  very  romantic.  I  walked  away  into  the 
deep,  solemn  quiet  of  the  hills.  The  ground  was  richly  carpeted 
with  a  thick  evergreen, —  kinnikinnic, —  which  is  smoked  by  the 
Indians.  God  seemed  near.  I  thanked  him  that  I  could  preach 
his  great  and  glorious  truth.  I  never  felt  more  Hke  rejoicing  in 
my  work. 

This  is  a  beautiful  and  healthy  place.  The  water  is  excellent. 
The  air  coming  through  the  vast  pine  forests  is  sweet  as  the  breath 
of  spring.  I  think  the  cars  will  come  here  some  day  from  Chey- 
enne, or  from  another  point,  in  twelve  hours.  These  Hills  are  too 
beautiful  and  too  productive  not  to  draw  a  railroad  within  a  few 
years. 

In  calling,  I  found  a  number  of  Catholic  families.  All  treated 
me  kindly.  There  are  some  excellent  people  here.  I  took  dinner 
with  a  gentleman  who  went  to  the  academy  with  me  in  Kingsville 
thirty  years  ago.  His  house  is  on  the  borders  of  the  vast  forest. 
How  romantic  the  hill  and  vale,  and  rugged  rocks  of  granite  tilted 
up  perpendicularly  !     Now  and  then  I  cHmbed  to  their  summits. 

Rapid  City,  December  17. —  It  was  so  cold,  I  determined  to  walk 
from  Rockerville.  I  dreaded  the  prairie  road,  so,  with  my  love  of 
adventure  and  romance,  struck  out  on  my  own  hook  straight  as 


112  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

a  bee-line  for  Rapid.  It  was  up  and  down,  rocks  and  hills.  Two 
miles  out,  I  struck  a  miner's  cabin, —  an  old  man  all  alone.  His 
wife  had  died.  He  said  I  was  going  in  the  right  direction.  He 
came  out,  and  pointed  me  on.  I  crossed  Rapid  Creek  on  the  ice, 
and  went  down  its  romantic  valley,  amid  glorious  scenery,  and 
great  meadows  with  abundant  grass  uncropped,  except  where  the 
deer  had  come  out  from  the  deep  shadows  of  the  bordering  pines 
to  feed.  I  started  up  a  deer  in  a  ravine,  but.  with  a  crackle  of 
brush  he  was  away  among  the  low  pines.  The  road  crossed  the 
creek  several  times.  I  crossed  twice  on  the  ice,  several  times  on 
foot-logs,  but  once  could  find  neither ;  had  to  pull  off  my  boots, 
and  wade.  But  a  cabin  was  near,  and  I  ran  to  the  fire,  and  did  not 
take  cold.     Got  here  at  6.30  P.M.,  which  all  counted  good  time. 

December  19. —  A  hard  day's  work  at  Deadwood,  visiting  from 
house  to  house.  Women  washing  amid  frost  and  cold,  looking 
so  feeble ;  children  deformed  from  vices  of  parents. 

December  21. —  Started  from  Deadwood  at  5  A.M.  on  the  coach, 
snow  six  inches  deep.  Had  a  beautiful  ride  on  the  box  with  the 
driver.  We  found  no  snow  after  twenty  miles.  Reached  Rapid 
City  at  2  P.M.  I  visited  the  school.  In  the  night,  the  wind  blew 
fearfully.  This  morning  the  snow  is  flying.  The  people  in  Dead- 
wood  were  determined  to  have  me  stay  another  day ;  but  I  had 
work  to  do  here,  and  I  have  learned  to  do  things  when  they  ought 
to  be  done.  If  I  had  stayed,  what  a  time  I  should  have  had !  I 
preach  here  to-morrow,  and  shall  feel  no  anxiety  about  the  storm. 
But  the  roads  are  full  of  freighters.  What  a  time  they  will  have 
with  their  long  teams,  sometimes  of  horses,  sometimes  oxen,  some- 
times mules  ! 

December  22).  —  A  new  hall  is  just  completed  and  plastered,  a 
rarity  for  the  Hills.  A  good  lady  wanted  our  meeting  held  there, 
as  a  sort  of  dedication  of  it  before  the  dance  of  Christmas  eve. 
As  it  was  stormy  and  blowing  fiercely,  I  hesitated,  and  thought  it 
best  to  go  into  the  little  school-house ;  but  I  consented,  and  went 
from  house  to  house  all  over  town,  telling  of  the  meeting.  I 
longed  to  impart  some  spiritual  blessing.     The  people  gathered  in 


Mid-winter  Labors.  1 1 3 

good  numbers.     There  was  an  organ,  fine  singing,  and  evergreens 
for  a  Cliristmas  tree. 

Dece?nber  24. —  Returned  to  Deadwood,  and  visited  there,  and 
in  Central  and  Lead.  We  had  a  Christmas  tree  at  Deadwood.  So 
much  travel  is  attended  with  considerable  exposure.  God  is  so 
kind,  to  give  me  strength  for  this  severe  work  in  this  severe 
weather.  Twelve  degrees  below  zero  at  sunrise  Christmas  morn- 
ing. The  next  morning,  finding  the  thermometer  only  down  to 
zero,  I  rode  to  Rapid,  and  walked  to  Haywood  and  Rockerville, 
and  back  to  Rapid,  holding  meetings  on  successive  days  in  those 
places. 

Spearjish^  January  i,  1879. —  The  coldest  day  I  think  I  ever 
experienced.  The  air  cut  like  a  knife.  I  left  Rapid  at  daylight, 
rode  three  hours  with  the  driver,  then  took  the  inside.  We  reached 
Crook  at  noon,  rode  on  to  the  Centennial  Prairie.  The  driver 
wheeled  his  six  splendid  horses  out  into  the  snow-drifts,  and  struck 
across  into  my  road  to  Spearfish.  Was  not  that  kind.^  I  walked 
ten  miles,  got  in  about  6  P.M.  I  found  the  road  filled  with  teams 
going  to  a  ball,  but  I  preferred  walking.  The  academy  has  as- 
sumed a  more  tangible  shape.  Lumber  is  now  on  the  ground, 
ready  for  building  when  spring  opens. 

yanuary  3. —  Rode  to  Deadwood,  thermometer  twenty  degrees 
below  zero,  and  visited  in  Lead  and  Central.  I  have  endured  for 
the  past  f&w  weeks  about  all  that  human  nature  can  endure,  it 
seems  to  me,  of  hardship.  The  cold  has  been  so  intense  as  to 
prostrate  one,  and  almost  take  the  life  out  of  me.  It  has  been 
rather  gloomy  work,  calling  in  Central.  The  homes  look  so  for- 
lorn,—  miserable  shanties,  with  no  comforts.  Disappointments 
and  trials  have  apparently  hardened  people,  so  that  their  minds 
seem  stupid.     Numbers  are  going  to  Leadville,  Colorado. 

We  observed  the  Week  of  Prayer  for  three  evenings  at  Lead. 
One  afternoon,  I  cut  up  a  sheet  of  paper  with  Scripture  verses  on 
the  topic  assigned,  which  was  "  Special  prayer  for  all  in  the  com- 
munity who  are  or  have  been  professors  of  religion,  that  they  may 
be  fully  consecrated  to  the  service  of  the  Lord,"  and  gave  one  to 


114  Memoirs  of  yoseph  IV.  Pickett. 

each  Christian  on  whom  I  called.  They  seemed  to  appreciate  my 
calls.  I  got  around  at  seven  o'clock,  with  one  text  left.  I  said, 
"  That  must  be  mine."  The  house  was  dark,  but  the  teacher  had 
left  a  good  fire,  and  swept  out  nicely.  I  lit  a  lamp,  looked  for  my 
verses  :  — 

"  He  giveth  power  to  the  faint, 
And  to  them  that  have  no  might  he  increaseth  strength. 
Even  the  youths  shall  faint  and  be  weary. 
And  the  young  men  shall  utterly  fall : 

But  they  that  wait  upon  the  Lord  shall  renew  their  strength ; 
They  shall  mount  up  with  wings  as  eagles ; 
They  shall  run,  and  not  be  weary ; 
They  shall  walk,  and  not  faint." 

Isaiah  xl.,  29-31. 

One  and  another  came  in,  bringing  their  verses.  A  stranger, 
not  a  church-member,  came  to  talk  about  building  a  church.  He 
spoke  of  the  crowd  that  could  not  be  accommodated  on  Sabbath 
night.  So,  after  prayers,  we  went  home  through  the  storm,  feeling 
that  we  had  a  good  meeting. 

Galena^  January  10. —  I  enjoyed  my  walk  to  this  place.  The 
road  was  not  well  broken,  so  that  I  got  pretty  tired.  I  feel  per- 
fectly safe,  travelling  about  this  winter.  Robbers  and  thieves 
cannot  secrete  themselves  by  the  wayside.  The  snow  is  two  feet 
deep.  It  lies  on  many  of  the  pine  branches  like  great  pillows 
rounded  off  by  the  wind.  In  some  quiet  places,  the  limbs  of  the 
pine  and  spruce  are  bent  down,  giving  that  peculiar  weird  appear- 
ance seen  in  pictures  of  northern  countries  in  winter.  Sometimes, 
I  traversed  deep  ravines,  where  the  winter  sun  never  shines,  and 
the  pines  are  shaggy  with  trailing  mosses.  I  reached  here  a  little 
after  noon.  Was  so  tired  I  did  not  go  out  till  evening.  The  little 
school-house  was  more  than  full.  A  good  audience  again  the  next 
evening,  all  that  could  pack  into  the  house.  I  called  during  the 
whole  day,  and  on  nearly  every  person  in  camp.  We  have  the 
most  liberal  Catholics  here  I  have  ever  met  with.  Many  of  them 
are  among  my  hearers,     The  thought  occurs  whether  the  time  is 


Perinane7it  Pastors  Needed.  115 

not  at  hand  when   Protestants  and  Catholics  may  feel  that  they 
have  many  interests  in  common. 

Rapid  City,  January  20.  —  I  lectured  at  Rockerville  Friday, 
on  "A  True  Life,"  and  came  here  to  a  lyceum  in  the  evening, 
that  was  started  from  my  New  Year's  sermon.  I  read  Byron's 
"  Waterloo,"  and  was  chosen  critic,  and  one  of  the  judges  for  the 
discussion.  On  the  Sabbath,  a  church  of  fifteen  members  was 
organized,  embracing  the  best,  and  in  fact  all  the  Christian  ele- 
ment of  the  place.  The  day  was  beautiful,  and  the  hills  and  plains 
seemed  to  smile  approvingly  upon  the  first  communion  in  this 
hopeful  town,  at  the  confluence  of  the  Sidney  and  Port  Pierre 
stage  lines.  But  the  work  cannot  long  go  forward  in  the  Hills 
without  ministers  to  take  it  up.  I  wait  and  watch,  asking  where 
are  the  men  to  push  forward  the  most  hopeful  enterprise  that  has 
been  opened  for  our  churches  in  many  years.  God  has  given  me 
good  success,  and  I  must  not  desert  the  field  until  men  can  come. 
It  has  taken  much  time  to  regain  what  I  lost  in  leaving  for  the 
month  I  was  home.  I  seem  greatly  needed  now.  There  was  never 
so  much  religious  feeling  in  the  Hills.  But  occasional  sermons 
from  superintendents  and  general  missionaries  cannot  do  the  work 
that  is  needed.  Permanent  and  able  pastors,  such  as  unfolded 
the  best  type  of  New  England  character,  are  wanted.  We  must 
expect  some  denominational  competition.  But  the  Congregation- 
alists  were  the  pioneers,  and  have  built  on  no  other  man's  founda- 
tion. To  find  a  new  field  untouched  by  the  various  denominations 
can  scarcely  happen  again.  If  our  work  is  pressed  with  energy 
and  wisdom,  the  results  will  be  glorious  in  coming  generations. 

One  never  wearies  with  the  beauty  of  these  wonderful  Hills. 
Sometimes,  it  is  true,  the  storms  brewed  in  the  wild  canons  of  the 
Yellowstone  and  the  Big  Horn  Mountains  come  racing  in  reckless 
license  over  the  weird  plains,  and  strike  in  boisterous  fury.  The 
vast  forests  of  sombre  pines,  caught  by  the  tempests,  sigh  and 
moan  and  toss,  as  if  in  throes  of  agony.  But  the  storm  passes, 
the  clear  sunlight  pours  its  wealth  of  comfort  and  cheer  into  the 
mountain  valleys,  and  one  thinks  it  the  most  lovely  spot  in  the 


ii6  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

world.     The  atmosphere  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Hills  has  a 
softness  and  purity  at  times,  which  is  altogether  fascinating. 

Rapid  City  lies  on  the  eastern  plains,  about  midway  of  the  Hills, 
close  under  their  shadow,  on  the  longest  stream  that  flows  from 
them.  The  valley  is  broad,  beautiful,  fertile,  easily  irrigated,  and 
dotted  with  ranches.-  The  Sabbath  sun  broke  over  the  eastern 
plains  in  matchless  splendor.  The  long  lines  of  western  hills 
glowed  like  a  vast  diamond  in  its  setting  of  silvery  plains.  One 
seemed  to  hear  from  the  plains  and  valleys  the  tramp  of  the 
coming  generations,  and  from  out  the  heavens  the  angels'  advent 
song. 

TO   HIS   MOTHER,  ON    HIS   FORTY-SEVENTH   BIRTHDAY. 

I  have  felt  this  evening,  though  pressed  with  work,  that  I  must 
stop,  and  write  a  few  words,  at  least,  to  the  mother  who  bore  me. 
I  cannot  say  that  time  flies  very  rapidly  with  me.  Great  changes 
make  such  breaks  as  divide  up  the  years  somewhat.  For  instance, 
it  seems  a  long  time  since  I  was  in  mother's  room,  in  St.  Louis, 
with  Bible  and  map  of  the  United  States  spread  out  before  me,  as 
I  prayed  for  direction  as  to  my  future  life.  Nothing  has  happened 
to  me  in  many  years  that  seemed  so  pleasant  as  being  with  you, at 
that  time.  How  strangely  God  led  me  there  with  my  boys,  and 
what  events  were  to  follow !  My  marriage,  our  departure  West, 
that  long  trip  through  Southern  Colorado,  the  visit  to  the  Black 
Hills,  strange  vicissitudes,  exposures,  and  dangers, —  how  like  a 
dream,  and  yet  how  real ! 

How  little  I  thought,  when  in'  the  old  log  school-house  studying 
in  Parley's  Geography  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  that  I  should 
cross  alone  their  wild  ^summits,  and  feel  famihar  in  their  soli- 
tudes !  What  a  privilege  your  boy  esteems  it  to  plant  the  pre- 
cious gospel  his  father  and  mother  taught  him,  in  these  regions ! 
How  grand  these  beginnings  !  Faith  sees  a  handful  of  corn  on 
the  tops  of  the  mountains  shake  like  Lebanon  in  the  not  distant 
future.  I  feel  well  and  strong  for  the  work  before  me,  and  delight 
in  it  more  than  in  anything  I  could  do  in  all  the  world.     If  I  had 


A  Mother  s  Prayers.  WJ 

all  the  gold  and  silver  in  these  mountains,  it  would  be  nothing  to 
the  satisfaction  which  I  receive  from  going  about  doing  good. 

And  now  I  realize  that  you  cannot  be  spared  to  your  children 
many  years.  I  want  to  tell  you  how  I  have  been  sustained  by 
your  prayers  in  my  arduous  work.  Many  times  in  my  talks,  I 
have  said :  "  My  mother  is  praying  for  me  every  day.  Her  race  is 
almost  run.  She  has  borne  the  heat  and  burden  of  the  day :  she 
can  do  little  now  but  pray  for  the  reapers  in  the  harvest-field." 
Never  forget  your  boy  in  toil  and  temptation.  Pray  that  the  Holy 
Spirit  may  rest  upon  me,  that  God  may  give  me  a  burning  love 
for  the  souls  of  men,  and  a  faith  that  will  overcome  the  world  as  I 
find  it  here  in  its  intensest  forms,  that  I  may  have  wisdom  and 
foresight  in  planting  churches,  and  be  so  guided  in  everything 
that  at  last  I  may  be  able  to  say  with  Paul,  "  I  have  fought  a 
good  fight,  I  have  finished  my  course,  I  have  kept  the  faith." 

Central  City,  Dakota  Territory,  January  28,  1879. 

February  3. — Preached  to  a  full  house  in  the  morning  at  Rocker- 
ville,  and  in  the  afternoon  at  two  o'clock  started  back  to  Rapid.  I 
took  another  cross-cut,  different  from  the  one  I  took  in  December, 
thinking  I  could  do  better ;  but  it  was  worse,  a  considerable  part 
of  the  way  perpendicular,  over  hills  and  ravines  so  dark  and 
gloomy.  In  the  deep  glens  there  seems  almost  an  eternal  silence, 
except  the  moaning  of  the  pines.  The  sun  became  obscured,  also 
the  moon,  so  that  I  was  obliged  to  guide  my  course  by  the  out- 
lines of  the  hills.  Darkness  crept  on.  I  was  no  longer  weary, 
but  hurried  on  in  a  half-walk,  half-run.  Coming  to  a  broad  valley," 
I  stopped  to  listen  several  times,  and  at  last  heard  the  murmur  of 
the  waters  of  Rapid  Creek,  which  never  seemed  so  grateful.  I 
struck  a  road  leading  two  miles  down  its  southern  bank  to  Rapid, 
which  I  reached  at  half-past  six  o'clock.  There  was  a  large  con- 
gregation in  the  hall.     I  was  soaked  through  with  sweat. 

February  27. — The  plains  are  quite  full  of  Indians.  They  sur- 
rounded Rapid.  The  soldiers  from  Fort  Meade  are  after  them. 
They  are  mostly  strolling  bands,  who  have  run  away  from  Red 
Cloud  Agency,  on  the  Sidney  route.     They  are  running  off  stock, 


Ii8  Memoirs  of  yoseph  W.  Pickett. 

and  are  after  the  freighters.     I  do  not  think  they  are  in  much  of 
a  killing  mood;  but  I  am  glad  I  am  not  on  the  way  home  just  now. 

Mr.  Pickett  continued  his  itinerant  labors,  encoun- 
tering storms  and  cold,  encouraging  and  strengthening 
the  little  bands  of  Christians  he  had  brought  together, 
harmonizing  conflicting  elements,  setting  in  order  the 
things  that  were  wanting,  lecturing  upon  education, 
temperance,  and  literary  subjects,  helping  in  plans  and 
subscriptions  for  church-building,  and  looking  anx- 
iously for  laborers  to  come  to  his  relief,  until  the 
middle  of  March,  when  he  was  cheered  by  the  arrival 
of  helpers  for  the  work  at  Lead  and  Central,  and  for 
Rapid  City  and  Rockerville.  Meanwhile,  other  minis- 
ters had  taken  charge  at  Deadwood  and  at  Spearfish 
and  Galena. 

With  a  happy  heart,  he  turned  his  face  homeward, 
after  four  months  of  the  severest  labor  and  exposure 
of  his  life.  The  stage-route  of  three  days  and  two 
nights  to  Sidney,  which  once  seemed  so  formidable, 
was  now  a  pleasant  pastime.  He  reached  the  bosom 
of  his  family  on  the  2ist  of  March.  Upon  the  report 
of  his  labors  to  the  Secretaries  of  the  American 
Home  Missionary  Society,  they  congratulated  him  that 
he  "  had  been  able  to  present  to  Christ  for  his  accept- 
ance an  Eshcol  bunch  of  churches,  big  and  succulent 
and  full  of  seeds  for  the  future,"  and  told  him  that  he 
had  probably  never  done  more  in  an  equal  time,  and 
would  not  be  likely  to  do  so  much  again  in  the  same 
space,  though  he  should  continue  many  years.  In 
view,  however,  of  the  extent  of  his  general   field  and 


Western  Colorado.  119 

the  openings  for  his  labors  in  many  directions,  he 
panted  to  press  into  new  regions,  and  sometimes  felt 
that  he  was  confined  disproportionately. long  in  the 
Black  Hills.  But  he  was  too  near  his  work  to  see  it 
in  full  perspective  and  in  all  its  importance. 

On  his  route  home,  he  fell  in  with  the  swellingr 
tides  of  a  new  migration  to  the  mountains.  The  roads 
were  thronged  with  people.  The  opening  of  the  new 
carbonate  fields  of  Western  Colorado  had  kindled  an 
enthusiasm  scarcely  paralleled  in  the  country.  Multi- 
tudes thrown  out  of  employment  in  the  general  busi- 
ness depression  of  the  previous  year  were  pressing 
into  the  canons  and  valleys  and  parks  of  that  region. 
Denver  and  Colorado  Springs  were  full  of  strangers. 
Pike's  Peak  looked  down  upon  an  almost  endless  pro- 
cession of  wagons  through  the  Ute  Pass  into  South 
Park  and  the  mountains  beyond.  Passing  south  to 
the  line  of  the  Atchison,  Topeka,  and  Santa  Fe  rail- 
way, he  was  still  more  impressed  with  the  extent  of 
this  westward  movement.  Standing  in  the  streets  of 
Canon  City,  he  looked  with  astonishment  upon  the 
throbbing  mass  of  life  that  was  passing  through. 
Going  into  the  principal  saloon,  he  was  surprised  at 
the  number  of  drinking  men  pressing  up  to  the  bar. 
Profanity  and  drunkenness  seemed  to  rule  the  hour. 
He  s|ood  in  silent  meditation:  "Are  these  men  to  be 
the  founders  of  empire.?  Are  they  to  build  up  the 
communities  that  shall  possess  these  mountains.?" 
He  thought,  by  contrast,  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers,  and 
of   the   foundations   they  laid,  and  of  the    absence   of 


120  Memoirs  of  Joseph  W.  Pickett. 

religious  sentiment  in  this  hegira.  A  heathen  state 
of  society  seemed  to  threaten,  instead  of  a  vigorous 
and  advanced  development  of  Christianity.  Barbarism 
was  the  first  danger.  The  prospect  was  appalling. 
He  again  quickened  his  steps  to  follow  the  adventurers 
with  the  word  of  life.     He  wrote:  — 

That  gospel,  which  has  thus  far  been  the  hope  of  our  country, 
must  follow  these  settlers  into  the  mountain  fastnesses ;  and  when 
the  day  of  sober  reflection  and  often  of  bitter  disappointment 
comes,  as  it  surely  will  come  to  many,  the  minister  of  Christ  and 
the  Bible  must  be  near,  and  these  wanderers  must  hear  the 
Saviour's  words,  "  I  counsel  thee  to  buy  of  me  gold  tried  in  the 
fire,  that  thou  mayest  be  rich."  It  is  one  of  the  sweetest  thoughts 
in  this  mountain  work  that  here  is  to  be  a  grand  test  of  the 
gospel's  power.  If  it  can  overcome  here,  it  can  anywhere.  It 
will  overcome  here;  and  Christ  will  be  honored  gloriously,  when 
from  these  valleys  and  mountains  churches  shall  rise,  and  devout 
worshippers  shall  exclaim :  — 

"  As  the  mountains  are  round  about  Jerusalem, 

So  the  Lord  is  round  about  his  people 

From  henceforth  even  for  ever." 

He  was  also  attracted  by  wide  openings  for  Chris- 
tian enterprise  in  other  sections.  He  longed  to  have 
a  hand  in  imparting  spiritual  gifts  to  New  Mexico  and 
Utah,  where  a  more  vigorous  prosecution  of  church 
and  school  enterprises  is  demanded,  to  deliver  the 
people  of  those  territories  from  ignorance  and  debase- 
ment and  from  corrupt  ecclesiastical  despotisms ;  and 
also  to  Montana,  which  was  then  receiving  a  larger 
immigration  than  for  several  years  previously. 

On  the  13th  of  April,  he  organized  a  church  with 
sixteen  members  at  Coal  Creek,  and  afterwards  made 


Southern  Colorado.  121 

explorations  of  new  mining  camps  in  Southern  Col- 
orado. He  then  visited  some  fields  which  were  for- 
merly cultivated  by  home  missionaries,  but  which  had 
undergone  discouragement  and  neglect.  He  attended 
the  meeting  of  the  Colorado  Association  at  Boulder, 
and  gave  a  full  report  of  his  labors,  and  especially  of 
his  work  in  the  Black  Hills.  His  report  glowed  with 
holy  fire.  He  pictured  so  vividly  the  valleys  and  hill- 
sides where  he  had  prayed  and  gathered  churches  that 
the  brethren  felt  themselves  transported  in  his  faith. 
During  the  latter  half  of  May,  he  was  again  in  the 
Hills,  spending  a  day  with  each  of  his  seven  churches, 
and  attending  a  meeting  of  the  Black  Hills  Associa- 
tion. He  then  hastened  back  to  mingle  with  the  tide 
of  travel  that  he  had  seen  surging  into  Western  Col- 
orado. His  letters  of  this  period  afford  the  following 
incidents:  — 

Silver  Cliffy  Custer  County^  Colorado^  April  1 5. —  The  morning 
ride  up  the  Arkansas  was  beautiful,  the  river  sparkling,  the  plum- 
trees,  of  which  there  are  a  great  number,  in  full  blossom.  The  red- 
wing blackbird  was  hovering  over  his  swamp  home  with  no  fear 
of  the  ague,  the  lark  was  singing  his  sweetest  notes,  and  my  own 
heart  was  full  of  praise  and  thanksgiving. 

At  the  Junction,  ten  miles  from  Canon  City,  we  started  up  Coal 
Creek  two  and  a  half  miles,  and  reached  the  town.  I  went  to  see 
the  coal-bank  whence  comes  the  bright  Canon  City  coal.  It  is 
easily  worked  from  the  surface,  not  by  a  shaft.  The  vein  is  five 
and  a  half  feet  thick,  sinks  about  one  foot  in  twenty,  and  covers  a 
large  space.  The  old  miners  think  it  the  most  perfect  coal  they 
ever  worked.  We  passed  into  the  total  darkness,  each  with  his 
miner's  lamp,  about  half  a  mile.  It  was  dry  the  whole  distance, 
and  a  pleasant  place  to  work.     The  miners  get  ninety  cents  a  ton 


122  Memoirs  of  yoseph    IV.  Pickett. 

for  delivering  it  at  the  dump.  They  can  get  out  three  tons  for  an 
ordinary  day's  work,  which  is  pretty  good  wages. 

I  called  around  among  the  people.  The  Welsh  have  large, 
well-trained  families,  and  are  anxious  to  have  them  in  church  and 
Sabbath-school.  The  church  was  organized  Sabbath  evening. 
They  are  all  Welsh,  and  seemed  harmonious.  Their  minister 
preaches  in  Welsh  in  the  morning,  and  in  English  in  the  evening. 
The  Sabbath-school  is  wholly  English. 

Monday  morning,  I  rose  at  five,  took  breakfast,  and  started  on 
foot  to  strike  the  Canon  City  coach,  but  missed  my  Avay,  and  went 
up  Oak  Creek  Canon.  By  hanging  to  bushes  and  jumping  from 
rocks,  I  got  two  and  a  half  miles  in  two  hours,  with  one  fall  into 
the  creek.  At  last,  I  got  into  the  road;  and  the  stage  with  six 
horses  overtook  me. 

About  two  miles  after  leaving  Coal  Creek,  we  found  snow, 
which  got  deeper  and  deeper,  though  thawing  fast.  The  bright 
sun  was  trying  to  the  eyes.  At  the  Half-way  House,  the  snow 
was  so  deep  the  coach  could  not  go  on.  Another  gentleman  and 
myself  took  a  light  carriage,  and  we  reached  Rosita  at  sunset.  It 
was  raw  and  cold,  and  the  town  full  of  snow,  with  wild  mountain 
scenery  all  around.  'I'o  the  west  is  Wet  Mountain  Valley;  and 
beyond  rise  the  famihar  Sangre  de  Christo  Mountains,  not  more 
than  twenty  miles  away. 

In  the  morning,  I  took  the  coach  for  this  place.  All  is  rush 
here.     I  find  a  number  of  members  of  Congregational  churches. 

De7tver^  May  i. —  With  all  my  love  for  Colorado  Springs,  I 
have  to  acknowledge  that  Denver  is  beautiful.  To  decorate  needs 
wealth  and  taste.  Both  are  here.  The  atmosphere  seems  more 
humid.  The  yards  are  lovely,  the  lawns  luxuriant,  pear-trees  and 
plum  in  full  bloom,  large  flowering-almonds,  white  and  red,  loaded 
with  blossoms,  and  building  going  on  in  every  part  of  the  city. 

Sidney,  Nebraska,  May  13. —  I  had  a  day  of  sweet  meditation 
and  divine  communion  yesterday.  The  white,  fleecy  clouds  floated 
peacefully  in  the  clear  sky,  with  the  mountains  in  the  background, 
the  shadows  marching  with  light  step  over  the  tender  grass,  no 


The  Plains  in  May.  123 

dust,  and  Nature  in  her  happiest  mood.  But  Cheyenne  was  raw 
and  cold,  as  usual.  A  pleasant  ride  from  Cheyenne  here.  Heavy 
rains  have  robed  the  earth  in  fresh  beauty.  The  thin,  shadowy 
cattle  are  luxuriating.  Poor  things,  which  I  saw  in  the  cold  and 
storm  of  last  winter  browsing  on  scraps  of  bushes  and  cactus,  now 
have  a  thousand  times  more  than  they  can  eat.  But,  if  they  enjoy 
contrasts  as  much  as  we,  it  is  doubtless  all  right.  The  lamp-post 
is  pointed  out  to  me,  where  a  murderer  was  hung  last  Sabbath 
morning. 

Deadwood,  May  16.  —  I  have  never  seen  the  Plains  looking 
more  beautiful.  These  vast  meadows  seemed  changed  into  a 
parade-ground.  Troops  of  cloud-shadows  marched  in  rapid  suc- 
cession through  the  whole  day.  Here  and  there,  great  herds  of 
cattle  were  feeding  on  the  tender  grass,  green  as  a  wheat-field 
of  young  grain.  Meadow-larks  sang  sweetly,  and  other  birds 
imparted  life  and  movement  to  these  uninhabited  regions.  Here 
and  there  are  masses  of  rocks,  and  wild  buttes  worn  in  fantastic 
shapes. 

Night  came  at  last.  The  sun  sank  to  rest,  the  west  glowed, 
and  beautifully  tinted  the  plains.  Then  the  stars,  one  by  one, 
came  out  of  their  hiding-places  in  the  arch  of  heaven.  After  day- 
light was  all  gone,  a  bird  would  break  out  in  a  little  warble,  as  if 
dreaming  its  low  ditty.  At  midnight,  the  heavens  were  grand. 
The  evening  star  had  sunk,  burning  red,  below  the  Western  plains. 
The  Dipper,  bottom  side  up,  still  mindful  of  the  order  of  the  uni- 
verse, pointed  with  unerring  finger  to  the  North  Star, —  these 
stars,  as  Emerson  says, 

"  Envoys  of  beauty, 
Visiting  the  universe  with  admonishing  smile." 

Then  rose  the  moon  in  the  far  east,  and  the  first  appearance  of 
day.     At  3.10  A.M.,  the  larks  were  pouring  forth  their  matin-song. 

May  19. —  A  glorious  walk  to  Spearfish  through  the  magnificent 
forests,  starting  at  five  o'clock  Monday  morning.  The  weather 
and  climate  and  scenery  are  perfectly  beautiful. 


124  Memoirs  of  Joseph    IV.  Pickett. 

June  3. —  At  Denver,  at  the  organization  of  the  Second  Church. 

Leadville^  Colorado^  June  20. —  After  a  few  days  of  rest  at 
home,  I  started  for  this  place,  to  which  I  have  been  so  long  look- 
ing. With  vahse  well  stored  with  flannels  in  one  hand,  a  double 
blanket,  shawl,  and  overcoat  in  the  other,  I  left  Colorado  Springs 
on  the  five  o'clock  evening  train  for  Denver.  In  four  hours,  we 
were  there,  in  time  to  take  the  Denver  and  South  Park  train  for 
the  mountains.  The  seats  are  too  short  for  good  rest ;  and  I  was 
surprised  to  find  how  well  I  had  slept  when  morning  came.  I 
rose  soon  after  day.  We  were  passing  through  low  mountains, 
and  beside  the  sparkling  waters  of  the  Platte,  which  sweeps 
grandly  through  the  gorges,  unconscious  of  the  humiliation  which 
awaits  it  as  it  flattens  out  amid  the  sands  of  Nebraska.  What  a 
change!  Is  this  dashing,  brilliant  stream,  tearing  over  the  stones 
along  its  narrow  bed,  the  lazy,  wide-flowing  stream  of  the  Plains  ? 
So  some  stirring,  energetic  youth  move  out  into  the  dreary  plati- 
tudes of  life,  losing  their  energy  and  power. 

I  saw  a  snow-capped  mountain  in  the  south-west,  as  the  rays  of 
the  rising  sun  changed  it  to  burnished  gold.  Now  we  began  to 
climb  in  earnest.  The  train  was  heavily  loaded.  One  felt  like 
patting  the  faithful  engine,  as  it  stopped,  panting  for  breath,  to 
gain  new  strength  and  work  up  a  full  head  of  steam  for  the  steep- 
est ascents.  The  scenery  was  grand  in  places  ;  and  such  wonders 
of  engineering  skill !  I  am  prepared  to  say  all  things  are  possible 
in  railroad  ascension.  Horseshoe  Bends  are  passed  one  after 
another,  and  we  looked  down  upon  vast  solitudes  of  pines  and  firs 
far  below,  or  up  to  the  snow-clad  peaks  above  us.  At  length,  we 
reached  the  summit  of  oozy  land,  where  the  skunk-cabbage  grows, 
as  I  noticed  on  my  San  Juan  trip  last  year.  The  water  now  began 
to  flow  toward  South  Park.  I  frequently  left  the  train  to  climb  a 
hill  and  look  upon  the  wild  waste  of  distant  mountains,  or  down 
into  the  tops  of  the  thickly  growing  firs,  straight  as  the  bayonets 
of  an  a-rmy  on  parade.  Now  we  were  pent  up  between  moun- 
tains; again,  in  a  moment,  we  had  burst  through.  The  prison- 
doors  opened,  and  South  Park  lay  before  us  like  a  vast  meadow. 


Leadville.  125 

A  beautiful  stream  flowed  away  in  the  distance,  cattle  were  feed- 
ing quietly  nearer  by,  and  yonder  are  the  white  tents  of  the  town 
of  Jefferson,  like  some  Arab  encampment,  ready  to  fold  their 
wings  and  fly  away  as  soon  as  the  railroad  passes  on. 

A  number  of  familiar-looking  Concord  coaches  are  in  waiting. 
I  secured  a  top  seat  above  the  driver ;  nine  dollars  for  sixty 
miles ;  the  scenery  pleasant,  both  shawl  and  blanket  in  requisi- 
tion. Once  the  coach  struck  a  stone  and  hfted  on  two  wheels, 
where  it  balanced  a  little  time.  I  thought  it  must  go  over,  but  we 
were  saved.  We  passed  on  through  the  Park,  which  differs  from 
San  Luis  in  having  several  ranges  of  hills  that  we  crossed,  and 
many  little  streams  made  from  the  mountain  snows.  We  passed 
through  Fairplay,  which  has  two  neat  churches  that  are  sufficient 
for  the  place ;  and  on,  above  timber-line,  snow  all  about  us,  but 
none  in  the  road.  Then  we  were  on  the  bleak  summit,  nearly 
twelve  thousand  feet  high,  with  tall  peaks  rising  above  us.  Then 
we  commenced  descending  toward  the  Arkansas,  and  I  was 
pointed  to  the  celebrated  Twin  Lakes,  nestling  amid  the  dark 
pine  forests  eight  or  ten  miles  away. 

Eight  miles  up  the  Arkansas,  we  turn  to  the  east,  and  begin  to 
see  the  wonderful  town  stretched  along  for  three  or  four  miles. 
It  strikes  one  not  unfavorably,  does  not  look  so  very  bleak,  is 
pleasantly  located  on  rolling  ground  in  the  valley,  with  mountains 
all  about  it.  Evergreens,  pine,  and  fir  are  on  every  side,  though 
being  rapidly  cut  off;  but  the  small  trees  are  preserved  in  the 
suburbs,  making  cosey  retreats  for  dwellings,  which  are  rapidly 
going  up.  The  furnaces  are  in  full  blast,  and  the  livid  slag  is 
being  poured  out  in  molten  masses.  But  how  shall  I  describe  the 
homeless,  restless  men  that  throng  the  streets,  surging  to  and  fro 
as  evening  comes  on  ?  I  have  never  seen  anything  like  it.  Silver- 
ton  or  Deadwood  cannot  compare  with  the  wickedness  here  :  vast 
saloons  and  dance-houses  on  every  side ;  triumphal  cars  of  disso- 
lute women,  tier  on  tier,  drawn  through  the  streets,  with  bands 
playing,  the  carnival  of  hell. 

The  American  Home  Missionary  Society  placed  the  first  mis- 
sionary of  any  denomination  in  this  field ;  but  his  health  failed, 


126  Memoirs  of  yoseph    IV.  Pickett, 

and  he  was  obliged  to  give  up  his  work.  The  Union  Church  he 
had  organized  soon  fell  to  pieces.  A  few  gathered  for  our  re- 
newed service  on  Sunday  at  the  Opera  House,  who  expressed 
great  joy  that  they  were  not  forgotten.  Never  was  there  more 
urgent  work  before  us.  We  must  have  an  able,  earnest  pastor 
here  and  a  chapel  this  summer. 

Monday,  I  took  a  trip  over  the  backbone  of  the  continent  to 
the  new  camps  of  Carbonateville  and  Kokomo.  I  rode  ten  miles 
to  Chalk  Ranch,  up  the  diminishing  Arkansas,  the  valley  full  of 
stunted  willows,  and  started  afoot  to  the  summit.  The  scenery 
became  grand,  as  we  climbed  higher  and  higher.  Here  were 
drifts  of  snow.  I  lay  down  on  one,  and  made  a  snow-ball,  of 
course.  Beside  the  snow  were  the  white  flowers,  such  as  I  saw 
a  year  ago.  Fleecy  clouds  moved  through  the  deep  blue  sky, 
stooping  here  and  there  to  kiss  the  white  foreheads  of  the  circling 
mountains.  Truly,  heaven  and  earth  met  together,  a  symbol  of 
the  union  yet  to  be  consummated  between  these  mountain-dwellers 
and  their  heavenly  Father.  We  were  now  at  the  head-waters  of 
Ten  Mile  Creek,  which  flows  into  Blue  River.  The  scenery  is 
grand, —  no  canon,  but  a  pleasant  valley.  Three  miles  down  the 
valley,  I  came  to  Carbonateville,  where  I  found  a  few  families, 
and  three  miles  further  to  Kokomo.  Here  are  foundations  of 
houses  in  every  direction,  so  as  to  pre-empt  lots ;  but  things  look 
quiet.  There  are  perhaps  five  hundred  people,  with  some  twenty 
families.  No  minister  had  visited  here  before.  I  secured  a  hall 
for  religious  service.  It  was  just  built,  and  without  a  seat  in  it. 
I  put  up  at  the  post-ofHce  a  notice  of  preaching  that  evening,  and 
visited  all  over  town,  inviting  the  people  to  the  service.  They 
helped  in  getting  seats,  table,  and  lights.  We  put  candles  in 
beer-bottles,  standing  them  on  the  floor.  People  crowded  in, 
some  one  hundred  and  fifty.  One-half  of  them  stood.  We  sang 
and  prayed.  I  enjoyed  preaching  to  this  hungry  people.  They 
were  very  attentive.  No  public  prayer  had  ever  been  heard 
before  in  this  community,  no  song  of  praise,  no  reading  of  the 
Word  of  God. 


Journey  to  Hartford,  Conn.  127 

After  a  careful  survey  of  the  field  at  Leadville,  and 
at  the  request  of  citizens  of  the  place  who  had  been 
appointed  a  building  committee  for  the  erection  of  a 
Congregational  church,  Mr.  Pickett  proceeded  to  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  to  solicit  aid  for  the  enterprise.  On  his 
journey,  he  found  time  to  write: — 

June  26. — The  last  part  of  the  ride  through  Kansas  was  beauti- 
ful, after  the  heat  and  dust  of  the  parched  plains.  The  Cotton- 
wood River  is  romantic  in  places.  There  are  large,  rich  cornfields 
in  which  one  could  hide  without  stooping.  For  many  miles,  we 
moved  along  the  banks  of  the  Kaw  River.  The  sky  resembled 
the  paintings  with  which  Prof.  Dana  used  to  illustrate  the  car- 
boniferous era,  the  sun  attempting  to  struggle  through  the  sleep- 
ing mists.  The  woods  looked  tropical ;  the  bushes  loaded  with 
clambering  vines ;  the  beautiful  sumach,  the  honey-locusts  and 
black  walnuts  clothed  in  rich  foliage,  and  wild  roses  blooming 
everywhere.  Here  and  there  a  solitary  old  stub,  such  as  we  used 
to  see  in  childhood  in  Ohio,  has  moved  the  compassion  of  an  ivy 
to  spread  the  leaf  of  charity  over  its  naked  deformity.  Yonder, 
in  the  wide  heavens,  moves  with  slow  and  steady  flight  a  blue 
crane  in  quest,  Hke  some  lone  preacher,  of  better  fishing-grounds. 

June  T.'j. — We  have  passed  into  Indiana.  Before  crossing  the 
State  Hne,  we  struck  old-fashioned  woods;  and  I  feel  much  at 
home  on  a  clay  soil,  with  grass  abundant.  From  a  large  red- 
clover  field,  the  air  comes  in  sweet  at  my  window.  Here  are 
beech  and  maple,  ash  and  elm ;  and,  on  all  the  new  fields,  stumps, 
stumps !  How  I  have  pulled  them  out,  played  around  them,  and 
burned  them! 

J2me  28.— Here  is  Lake  Erie,  that  in  childhood  filled  me  with 
a  sense  of  the  Infinite. 

June  29. — Central  New  York  is  a  wonder,—  so  much  beauty  of 
scenery,  such  homes  and  fine-looking  people.  Troy  is  a  delightful 
city.  I  have  enjoyed  its  Sabbath  quiet  and  the  churches.  It  is 
evident  that  all  this  is  due  to  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ. 


128  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

Hartford,  Cojtn.,  July  4,  1879. —  I  P^ay  to-day  for  our  wonder- 
ful country,  that  the  Lord  may  preserve  and  bless  it,  and  develop 
everywhere  such  a  civilization  as  I  see  around  me  here. 

The  sudden  changes  of  air  and  temperature  which 
he  encountered,  and  his  fatigue,  induced  a  severe  attack 
of  rheumatism  at  Hartford ;  and  he  felt  the  incongruity 
of  pleading  upon  crutches  for  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
But  he  pursued  his  mission,  and  in  the  course  of  a  few- 
days  collected  twelve  hundred  dollars.  With  pleasant 
memories  of  the  kindly  co-operation  of  Hartford  pas- 
tors and  people,  he  hastened  back,  stopping  half  a  day 
with  his  mother  at  Meadville,  Penn,,  and  was  at  Lead- 
ville  on  the  last  day  of  July,  securing  an  eligible  loca- 
tion, raising  additional  means,  and  stimulating  the 
speedy  erection  of  the  church.  The  work  was  hard 
and  laborious,  and  taxed  his  strength  and  burdened  his 
spirit  heavily.  Meanwhile,  he  made  a  missionary  explo- 
ration of  new  fields  in  the  Gunnison  River  country,  and 
in  the  early  days  of  September  took  a  brief  rest  at 
home.  The  latter  half  of  the  month,  he  was  again  at 
Leadville,  looking  to  the  foundations  of  the  church  and 
gathering  building  materials.  Thence  he  made  a  visi- 
tation in  the  Black  Hills,  to  help  forward  his  seven 
churches,  and  again  returned  to  Leadville,  to  push  on 
the  work  which  was  giving  him  so  much  anxiety. 

I  took  the  Canon  City  coach  at  Leadville,  August  21,  for  forty 
miles  down  the  Arkansas  River  to  Mahonville,  a  romantic  little 
place,  with  no  material  as  yet  for  a  church.  From  there,  the  ride 
up  the  valley  of  the  Cottonwood  toward  the  canon  was  very  pleas- 
ant.    The  mountains  are  grand ;  and  it  seemed  much  like  going 


The  Gunnison  River  Region.  129 

to  Manitou  from  Colorado  Springs.  The  summits  of  Yale,  Har- 
vard, and  Princeton  rise  on  either  side  of  the  mighty  cleft  which 
forms  Cottonwood  Pass.  After  riding  about  five  miles,  we  came 
into  the  precipitous  canon,  and  right  up  to  Mr.  Adams'  beautiful 
sanitarium.  The  Cottonwood  murmurs  by.  The  air  seemed 
balmy ;  and  the  nervous  excitement  of  the  higher  altitudes  passed 
away.  The  springs  are  almost  burning  hot,  with  soda  and  various 
medicinal  properties,  regarded  as  an  antidote  to  lead-poisoning 
and  other  diseases. 

The  next  morning,  I  set  off  on  a  pony  over  the  mountains.  After 
rapid  and  laborious  climbing,  at  2  P.M.  I  stood  on  the  backbone 
of  the  continent.  It  was  grand  beyond  description.  Descending 
rapidly  to  the  west,  I  reached  Plillerton  at  6  P.M.,  near  the  head- 
waters of  Willow  Creek,  which  flows  into  the  Gunnison.  Here  I 
found  a  camp  of  about  two  hundred  miners,  with  perhaps  a  dozen 
families.^  I  left  an  appointment  for  the  next  Wednesday  evening, 
and  passed  on,  spending  the  following  night  at  the  first  stopping- 
place,  thirty  miles  to  the  west.  In  attempting  to  save  five  miles 
by  a  cut-off,  I  was  lost  twice  in  the  wildest  part  of  the  mountains? 
and  at  last  led  my  horse  over  fallen  timber  and  rocks  down  the 
steep  mountain-side  into  Union  Park,  where  I  struck  the  road, 
having  wandered  from  8  A.M.  to  i  P.M.  Passing  five  miles  down 
Lotus  Creek,  a  wild  canon,  I  came  to  Taylor  River,  really  the 
Gunnison,  down  which  I  rode  twenty  miles,  and  at  8  P.M.  reached 
Jack's  Cabin,  a  weary  man. 

On  the  morning  of  the  24th,  I  rode  twelve  miles  to  Crested 
Butte,  and  preached  in  the  evening  in  the  dining-room  of  the  hotel 
to  some  forty  men  and  a  few  women,  comprising  nearly  all  who 
were  not  away  in  the  mines.  Some  Congregationalists  from 
Lyons,  Iowa,  are  putting  up  a  smelter  here.  The  country  is  beau- 
tiful, with  plenty  of  grass  along  the  valleys,  which  are  hemmed 
in  by  the  mountains  on  every  side.  Here  is  a  vein  of  coal  forty- 
two  inches  thick,  which  is  an  important  consideration  in  an 
isolated  camp  like  this. 

The  next  day,  I  passed  on  ten  miles  to  Gothic  City,  which  has 
an  elevation  of  some  nine  thousand  feet.     Here  is  quite  a  village. 


130  Memoirs  of  Joseph    W.  Pickett. 

I  preached  to  a  small  audience,  the  men  being  mostly  absent  in 
the  mines.  I  went  within  a  few  miles  of  Gunnison  City,  the 
county  seat  of  Gunnison  County,  which  has  six  or  eight  families, 
and  is  smaller  than  the  towns  I  visited.  Very  few  persons  will 
remain  in  the  country  during  the  winter.  Many  are  about  leaving. 
Crested  Butte  and  Gothic  are  in  the  Elk  Mountains,  only  a  few 
miles  from  the  line  of  the  Ute  Reservation,  which  shuts  us  out 
from  the  region  west.  Should  the  mines  open  favorably,  there 
will  be  a  large  immigration  in  the  spring,  when  a  missionary 
should  be  put  in  here,  making  his  head-quarters  at  Crested  Butte, 
and  supplying  the  camps  for  twenty  miles  around. 

Returning,  I  preached  at  Hillerton,  in  the  post-office  building 
on  Broadway.  It  was  the  first  religious  service  held  in  the  town. 
We  sang  "  Coronation."  A  weekly  newspaper  published  there. 
The  Occident^  gave  an  abstract  of  the  services.  The  weather  was 
very  cold,  and  I  suffered  severely.  Water  froze  quite  thick  in  a 
close  tent. 

At  Cottonwood  Springs,  I  found  letters  from  Leadville,  inform- 
ing me  of  new  perplexities  and  embarrassments  in  the  work  there. 
It  was  a  heavy  blow  to  me.  I  came  down  to  Canon  City,  and 
home. 

Colorado  Springs,  September  9. —  I  had  hoped  for  a  rest,  after 
the  exhausting  labors  of  the  past  few  months,  but  have  to  return 
to  Leadville  the  moment  I  am  through  with  my  correspondence. 
Have  had  a  delightful  visit  from  a  former  parishioner  at  Went- 
worth  (Hon.  J.  E.  Sargent,  of  Concord,  N.H.).  How  many  sweet 
and  hallowed  memories  it  recalls  !  I  have  lived  again  in  the  past. 
We  have  been  with  him  to  the  Garden  of  the  Gods,  Ute  Pass,  and 
Glen  Eyrie. 

I  want  time  to  consider  what  should  be  done  for  New  Mexico 
and  Utah.  The  Lord  may  give  our  churches  a  desire  to  go  in  and 
possess  them,  and  may  raise  up  some  instrumentality  for  sending 
teachers  into  them,  to  be  followed  by  missionary  labor.  I  have 
been  absorbed  in  special  localities,  so  that  I  have  had  little 
opportunity  to  take  a  comprehensive   view  of  my  field.     Yet  I 


Church-building  at  Leadville.  131 

have  done  what  seemed  best.  I  think  I  have  no  selfish  ambition 
in  these  things.  The  shortness  of  Hfe,  the  vanity  of  human  ambi- 
tion, the  httleness  of  man,  have  been  impressed  upon  me  as  never 
before.  Amid  the  mighty  scenes  of  nature,  the  Bible  has  been 
my  constant  companion.  Its  truths  have  been  more  to  me  than 
the  mountain  streams. 

Leadville^  September  16. —  I  came  by  the  new  road  by  Musquito 
Pass ;  but,  in  going  over  the  wildest  and  most  romantic  places,  we 
were  in  pitchy  darkness.  There  were  a  large  number  of  women 
with  families  coming  to  meet  their  husbands,  which  is  cheering  to 
those  who  want  to  see  moral  principles  established  in  the  moun- 
tains. 

The  work  here  must  now  be  looked  to.  I  spent  all  yesterday 
going  round  with  the  chairman  of  the  building  committee.  We 
were  fortunate  in  getting  part  of  the  native  lumber  at  twenty 
dollars,  instead  of  twenty-five.  One  of  the  shingle-mills  made  an 
offer  that  the  shingle-mills  in  town  should  give  the  shingles.  An- 
other seconded  the  motion.  The  Lord  seems  favoring  us  in  our 
extremity. 

Septe?nber  18. —  I  collected  over  one  hundred  dollars  yesterday. 
I  have  prayed  for  hopefulness  and  cheerfulness  in  this  work  of 
collecting,  and  especially  in  meeting  with  rebuffs  that  are  so  dis- 
couraging; and  I  think  God  is  answering  my  prayer.  I  fear  I  did 
not  do  just  right  in  going  home  from  Cottonwood  Springs,  instead 
of  coming  back  here.  I  promised  God  this  morning  that  I  would 
try  to  be  more  considerate. 

September  22. —  The  weather  is  delightful,  though  the  dust  in 
the  roads  is  fearful.  I  could  make  up  quite  a  story  of  the  delights 
of  spring.  Strawberries  are  in  blossom.  The  robins  are  abundant 
on  Capitol  Hill,  where  I  walk  each  morning.  A  red  squirrel  cuts 
up  his  pranks  on  the  pine-trees  near  by,  seemingly  ridiculing  my 
devotions. 

Jenks'  Station,  Dakota,  October  i. —  The  eve  is  beautiful.  The 
Black  Hills  show  themselves  in  the  west,  no  longer  the  gloomy 


132  Memoirs  of  Joseph    W.  Pickett. 

solitudes  I  once  saw.  but  brightened  by  prayer  and  Christian  work, 
the  home  of  our  dear  churches.  How  the  love  of  God  and  man 
changes  the  face  of  nature  ! 

October  3. — I  left  the  coach  at  four  o'clock  yesterday  morning, 
and  took  "  across  lots  "  to  Rockerville,  nine  miles  for  breakfast. 
The  morning  was  wonderfully  beautiful,  the  sky  clear  as  crystal. 
I  called  all  around,  and  preached  last  eve  to  a  large  congregation. 
The  church  has  bought  the  school-house.  I  am  to  pay  twenty-five 
dollars,  and  expect  to  get  the  money  from  some  source.  This 
morning  after  early  breakfast  I  took  a  walk  to  Rapid.  When  I 
got  where  the  road  led  down  into  a  wild  ravine,  I  had  to  strike 
across  again ;  but  I  did  better  than  ever  before.  I  found  a  place 
where  the  bee  line  was  not  perpendicular,  and  reached  Rapid  at 
noon.  The  crops  have  been  fine  here,  without  any  irrigation, 
which  settles  the  matter  of  agriculture. 

Deadwood^  October  6. — The  coach  was  behind,  Saturday.  There 
were  twenty-three  passengers,  but  I  was  favored  in  riding  with 
the  driver  most  of  the  way.  We  had  over  a  ton  of  freight,  and 
came  slowly.  Before  the  moon  rose,  it  was  so  dark  that,  with  the 
dust,  the  smoke  of  the  mountain  fires,  and  piles  of  baggage,  the 
driver  was  in  continual  fear  of  upsetting  us.  But  we  soon  learn 
to  take  things  as  they  come.  The  fires  were  grand  in  the  hills, 
whole  hill-sides  Hvid  with  flame.  We  reached  here  between 
twelve  and  one.  Sabbath  morning.  The  moon  shone  upon  the 
blackened  city.  Our  parsonage  is  safe,  also  the  church,  which  has 
cost  nearly  two  thousand  dollars.  Energy  and  enterprise  are 
throwing  up  buildings  on  every  side.  The  church  is  going  for- 
ward in  Central,  just  in  the  place  where  I  wanted  it.  At  Lead,  the 
church  is  not  plastered,  but  looked  nicely,  and  was  dedicated. 
We  had  an  excellent  meeting  of  the  Black  Hills  Association, 
organized  an  Education  society,  pushed  forward  plans  for  the 
academy  at  Spearfish,  and  had  an  ordination  by  a  council  at 
Central. 

Rapid  City ^  October  20. — Starting  from  Deadwood  on  Tuesday,  I 
came  the  next  day  forty  miles,  to  Custer,  the  oldest  camp  in  the 


Untiring  Labor.  133 

Hills,  a  beautiful  location.  The  old,  deserted  houses  are  occupied 
again.  Three  years  ago  there  were  some  thousands  of  people 
there,  now  about  two  hundred.  We  got  in  just  as  pitchy  dark- 
ness was  gathering  around  us.  A  heavy  rain  came  on,  the  first 
rain  in  the  Hills  for  several  months.  As  we  left  Custer,  the  wind 
was  terrible  on  the  high  table-land.  The  grass  had  been  burned ; 
and  the  cinders  flew  in  our  faces,  with  small  stones,  so  that  we 
could  not  open  our  eyes.  We  were  obliged  to  run  our  horses  for 
several  miles.  We  came  here  on  Friday,  and  the  next  day  drove 
up  and  down  this  beautiful  valley.  The  camps  west  of  here  have 
taken  a  new  lease  of  life.  Remarkable  gold  discoveries,  recently 
made,  may  change  the  centre  of  population  in  the  Hills.  My  trip 
has  been  very  pleasant  and  profitable.  It  does  me  much  good  to 
see  our  work  going  forward. 

Leadville^  Col.,  October  27. — Reached  here  at  two  P.M.,  Satur- 
day. It  now  takes  two  whole  days  to  come  from  Denver.  I  found 
the  church  up,  and  shingled,  four  men  at  work.  As  I  looked  at  it, 
I  lifted  up  my  heart  to  God  and  rejoiced.  But  the  church  is  in 
debt,  and  I  must  help.  We  want  to  push  the  work  this  beautiful 
weather,  if  we  can  get  the  money.  I  have  prayed  that  God  may 
go  before  us,  and  open  the  hearts  of  this  people. 

After  another  week  of  untiring  labor  at  Leadville, 
Mr.  Pickett  returned  to  Colorado  Springs.  He  marked 
the  first  Sunday  of  November  as  a  ''sweet  day  of  rest" 
with  his  family,  and  in  the  afternoon  read  to  them 
Longfellow's  '*  Children  of  the  Lord's  Supper."  Rev. 
Harlan  P.  Roberts,  of  Silverton,  who  had  been  a  mem- 
ber of  his  household  at  Mount  Pleasant,  was  with 
them.  A  few  days  afterward,  the  Colorado  Associa- 
tion met  at  Colorado  Springs.  He  enjoyed  the  inter- 
change of  cordial  greetings  with  his  brethren,  as  they 
came  together  from  their  widely  separated  fields,  and 
took  part   in  their  discussions  with   reference   to   the 


134  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

Indian  question,  education  in  New  Mexico,  Renan's 
view  of  Christ,  church  music,  and  progress  in  religion. 
He  reported  to  them  fully  his  own  work,  and  awakened 
such  interest  and  sympathy  that  the  consideration  of 
another  subject  which  had  been  assigned  to  follow  his 
report  was  postponed ;  and  the  Association  gave  itself  to 
prayer  for  the  fields  in  which  he  had  labored  and  for 
the  success  of  home  missions  in  the  regions  beyond. 
The  officers  of  the  American  Home  Missionary  So- 
ciety at  New  York  had  requested  him  at  the  earliest 
possible  moment  to  visit  Utah,  and  open  up  several  in- 
cipient preaching  stations.  This  he  was  intent  to  do, 
and  was  only  waiting,  in  order  to  complete  the  church 
at  Leadville,  so  that  it  could  be  occupied  for  services  of 
public  worship.  Saturday,  he  joined  his  brethren  in 
a  pleasure  excursion  to  Cheyenne  canon,  and  on  the 
Sabbath  taught  his  wife's  Bible-class  of  young  ladies, 
shared  in  the  joy  of  the  dedication  of  a  house  of  wor- 
ship erected  by  the  Congregational  Church  at  Colorado 
Springs,  and  took  part  in  a  missionary  meeting  in  the 
evening,  at  which  a  liberal  offering  was  made  for  the 
church  at  Leadville. 

Tuesday,  after  a  season  of  "precious  devotion,"  as 
he  entered  in  his  diary,  and  words  of  love  and  counsel 
to  dear  ones,  and  an  affectionate  note  to  his  mother, 
who  had  sent  him  some  mittens  of  her  own  make  for 
his  comfort  in  the  approaching  winter,  he  was,  as  he 
wrote  to  her,  "off  in  a  few  minutes  for  Leadville." 
With  friends  on  the  train,  he  indulged  in  a  cheerful 
vein  of  humor,  as  was  natural  to  him  in  social  inter- 


His  Last   Work.  135 

course.  The  two  following  days  he  spent  in  Denver, 
soliciting  help  for  the  church  at  Leadville,  and  writing 
nineteen  letters  to  as  many  mine-owners  at  the  East 
for  the  same  object.  He  also  purchased  windows  and 
seats  for  the  church,  and  was  planning  to  have  it  ready 
for  occupancy  on  the  second  Sabbath  following.  "We 
cannot  wait  till  spring,"  he  said.  ''  Spring  comes  too 
late  upon  the  mountains.  I  must  hurry,  and  keep  the 
workmen  at  that  church."  In  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Pickett, 
he  sent  his  love  to  the  boys,  and  said,  "  Tell  them  I  am 
going  to  ask,  when  I  come,  which  of  them  did  the  most 
to  make  our  home  the  happiest,  brightest  spot  on 
earth."  He  led  a  church  prayer-meeting  Wednesday 
evening,  and  the  following  day  had  an  interview  with 
the  Governor  of  Colorado,  who  gave  him  good  reports 
of  the  work  at  Silverton,  and  of  the  missionary  there, 
and  also  encouraged  him  with  sympathy  and  aid  for 
the  church  at  Leadville.  He  heard  favorable  opinions 
expressed  as  to  his  own  labors,  and  was  assured  of  the 
growing  regard  and  esteem  that  was  felt  for  himself 
and  for  his  work  throughout  the  mountain  region. 
Mentioning  this,  in  writing  to  his  wife,  he  added,  "  May 
we  give  reputation,  influence,  life  itself,  to  Him  who 
gave  so  much  for  us!"  This  was  on  the  13th  of 
November.  That  evening,  he  took  the  train  on  the 
Denver,  South  Park,  and  Pacific  Railroad,  in  a  snow- 
storm, and  the  following  morning  sent  his  usual  mes- 
sage as  to  where  he  was,  and  of  affection  to  his  family, 
with  the  words :  '*  On  cars.  South  Park,  midst  of  snow- 
storm.    Hope  to  get  over  range  without  trouble." 


136  Memoirs  of  Joseph   W.  Pickett. 

The  storm  was  of  extreme  violence ;  the  winds  blew 
a  tempest ;  the  snow  was  a  foot  deep,  and  obstructed 
the  headway  of  the  train.  The  end  of  the  track, 
which  was  then  at  Weston,  one  hundred  and  eight 
miles  from  Denver,  was  not  reached  until  four  hours 
after  the  schedule  time.  The  storm  was  then  at  its 
height.  Some  of  the  passengers  were  inclined  to  lie 
over  until  the  next  day.  But  hoping  to  get  over  the 
worst  of  the  road  before  sunset,  and  intent  on  reaching 
their  home  or  their  business  at  Leadville,  and  having 
a  careful  and  reliable  driver,  who  had  driven  through 
many  a  mountain  storm,  it  was  decided  to  go  on.  Mr. 
Pickett  was  well  acquainted  with  the  driver,  having 
rode  with  him  several  times  on  former  journeys,  and 
on  this  occasion  requested  him  to  reserve  the  seat 
which  he  occupied.  There  were  fourteen  passengers, 
nine  inside  the  coach,  three  of  whom  were  ladies,  and 
five  on  the  outside.  Mr.  Pickett  was  among  the  latter, 
his  seat  by  the  driver.  They  started  shortly  after 
noon,  Friday,  November  14th,  with  buffalo  robes, 
wraps,  and  blankets  to  protect  them  from  the  cold.  It 
was  a  rough  drive  to  Platte  Station,  the  snow  blowing 
in  such  clouds  that  it  was  impossible  to  see  any  length 
ahead.  Even  the  horses  at  times  could  not  be  seen. 
At  this  place,  the  driver  told  the  passengers  that  they 
might  remain  over  night,  if  they  preferred.  Still 
hoping,  however,  to  get  over  the  worst  of  the  road  at 
least,  before  night,  they  said  that  they  would  proceed, 
if  the  driver  was  willing.  He  expressed  no  hesitation, 
and  the  battle  with  the  storm  was  resumed. 


In  a  Mountain  Storm.  137 

The  first  delay  was  in  ascending  Weston  Pass, 
caused  by  a  freighter's  wagon,  which  blocked  the 
road,  until  a  team  from  a  wagon  in  front  came  to  its 
assistance.  Nearly  half  an  hour  was  lost  at  this  point. 
The  snow  and  hail  continued  to  come  down  furiously, 
almost  blinding  those  on  the  outside.  Once  or  twice, 
they  became  so  chilled  that  they  alighted,  and  walked 
a  short  distance  to  warm  themselves.  On  one  of  these 
occasions,  Mr.  Pickett  remarked  that  he  did  not  like 
being  locked  up  in  the  boot,  because  it  would  be  diffi- 
cult to  escape  in  case  of  an  accident.  He  further 
stated  that  he  had  tried,  but  was  not  able  to  unbuckle 
the  straps.  He  expressed  his  confidence  in  the  driver, 
and  said  that  he  thought  no  accident  would  occur  while 
he  held  the  reins.  Shortly  after,  he  resumed  his  seat 
in  the  boot,  and  was  in  good  spirits. 

Another  delay  was  occasioned  by  freighters,  who 
were  stalled  on  a  hill  near  Lower  Rocky  Station.  An 
hour  passed  before  this  obstruction  was  removed.  It 
was  now  nearly  dark.  From  this  place,  the  coach 
went  along  smoothly,  until  about  seven  o'clock,  when 
the  driver .  stopped  his  six  horses,  and  warmed  his 
hands  by  slapping  them  across  his  body,  to  get  the 
right  feeling  in  them,  as  he  said,  for  the  extra  exertion 
required  in  going  down  the  mountain.  Then  they 
rushed  along  at  rapid  gait.  The  sleet  and  snow  were 
blowing  in  blinding  fury,  freezing  to  the  face.  In 
descending  a  steep  pitch  on  sideling  ground,  about 
eleven  miles  from  Leadville,  the  driver  put  on  the 
brake ;  but  it  became  obstructed  with  snow,  and  would 


138  Memoirs  of  Joseph    W.  Pickett. 

not  hold.  He  made  a  desperate  effort  to  pull  in  the 
horses;  but  they  became  unmanageable,  and  sheered 
to  the  left,  to  avoid  the  brunt  of  the  storm.  Here  the 
coach  upset,  turning  completely  over  on  its  top.  The 
outside  passengers  were  thrown  away  from  or  under  it ; 
and  those  inside  were  thrown  on  their  heads,  with  their 
feet  up.  The  horses  became  uncoupled,  and  pulled 
over  the  driver,  who  was  holding  the  reins  firmly.  He 
escaped  with  a  severe  injury  on  his  shoulder.  The 
injured  passengers  slowly  and  painfully  extricated 
themselves  from  the  wreck.  In  the  confusion,  the 
bruised  and  wounded  received  attention  first.  No 
person  in  the  company  had  a  match  to  strike  a  light 
or  kindle  a  fire.  Nearly  an  hour  elapsed  before  it  was 
found  that  Mr.  Pickett  was  fastened  in  by  the  boot- 
apron,  and  was  dead.  As  the  coach  went  over,  he  was 
heard  to  exclaim,  "  O  my  God ! "  He  was  killed  in- 
stantly. His  neck  was  brok-en.  To  appropriate  to 
him  language  in  which,  a  short  time  previously,  he  had 
depicted  the  moment  after  death,  —  ''Time  was  no 
more.  The  struggles  and  weariness  of  earth  were 
ended.  The  responsibilities  of  life  were  laid  down. 
The  Rocky  Mountains  and  the  great  globe  faded  away. 
The  white  hills  of  Paradise  dawned,  bathed  in  ever- 
lasting righteousness ;  and  he  saw  the  city  which  hath 
foundations,  and  the  King  in  his  beauty." 

As  soon  as  his  remains  were  taken  from  the  wreck, 
three  of  the  passengers  walked  to  the  Nine-mile  House 
for  assistance ;  and  the  next  day  the  body  was  removed 
to  Leadville.     A  meeting  of  the  Protestant  pastors  of 


Funeral  Services.  139 

the  city  was  convened  in  the  evening  at  the  Methodist 
parsonage,  and  resolutions  of  respect  for  his  memory 
as  "  a  good  man  and  an  earnest  and  eloquent  preacher 
of  Christ,  who  had  fallen  at  his  post,  and  had  gone  to 
receive  a  crown  of  righteousness,"  were  adopted ;  and 
arrangements  were  made  for  funeral  services  to  be  held 
at  the  Presbyterian  church  Sunday  afternoon.  The 
pastors  acted,  as  pall-bearers.  Though  the  weather 
was  cold  and  snow  was  falling,  the  house  was  filled  to 
overflowing ;  and  the  whole  community  attested  their 
sympathy  and  their  regard  for  one  who  had  laid  down 
his  life  in  the  service  of  Christ  and  his  fellow-men. 
Impressive  addresses  were  delivered  by  Rev.  R,  Weiser 
and  Rev.  Charles  R.  Bliss. 

At  Colorado  Springs,  the  news  of  the  calamity  broke 
with  fearful  shock  upon  his  family  and  friends.  The 
body  was  brought  to  the  desolated  home  November  19. 
On  the  following  day,  appropriate  services  were  held  at 
the  Congregational  church.  Many  came  from  near  and 
far,  testifying  the  love  and  respect  in  which  Mr.  Pickett 
was  cherished.  The  pastor,  Rev.  R.  T.  Cross,  gave  an 
address,  reviewing  his  life  and  labors  and  portraying 
his  character,  from  which  the  following  extracts  are 
taken :  — 

We  are  all  mourners  to-day.  Our  souls  are  bowed  down  with 
a  great  grief,  our  hearts  are  crushed  with  a  great  sorrow.  Like 
little  children,  we  stand  in  the  presence  of  this  strange  scene, 
wondering  what  it  means.  Yet  not  for  one  moment  do  we  doubt 
God's  overruling  providence,  nor  distrust  his  wisdom,  goodness, 
and  love.  For,  if  we  give  up  our  faith  in  these,  all  is  gone ;  and 
we  stand  no  longer  on  a  solid  rock.     Bowing  then  in  grief,  but 


140  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

without  a  murmur,  to  the  will  of  God,  let  us  look  at  our  brother's 

life 

His  was  a  successful  life,  a  grand  and  glorious  life,  because  it 
was  a  Christ-like  life. 

1.  In  his  genial,  affable,  friendly  spirit  toward  every  one  whom 
he  met.  Those  who  only  casually  met  him  noticed  it.  When 
entering  upon  his  superintendency  in  Iowa,  he  laid  down  certain 
principles  or  rules  that  he  strove  to  follow.  The  first  one  was,  "  I 
shall  try  to  avoid  that  cold,  indifferent  manner,  characteristic  of 
agents  and  others  who  travel  and  mingle  much  with  men.  I  shall 
pray  for  a  warm,  Christ-like  heart,  glowing  with  love  and  sympa- 
thy for  all.  I  shall  endeavor  even  among  crowds  of  strangers  to 
feel  that  Christ  died  for  them,  and  shall  pray  that  they  may  be 
delivered  from  sin,  and  become  his  followers."  Many  can  witness 
to  the  faithful  manner  in  which  he  carried  out  this  resolve. 

2.  Indomitable  energy,  great  enthusiasm  and  hopefulness,  burn- 
ing zeal,  and  a  spirit  of  self-sacrifice  were  prominent  elements  of 
his  character.  The  way  in  which  he  pushed  the  work  in  the 
Black  Hills,  and  the  way  in  which  he  was  pushing  the  work  of 
building  a  church  at  Leadville,  were  proofs  of  his  energy.  Where 
others  saw  great  obstacles  he  saw  them  too ;  but  he  saw  also  a 
mightier  power,  and  was  hopeful  and  enthusiastic  in  regard  to  the 
hardest  fields.  The  burning  zeal  for  upbuilding  the  Redeemer's 
kingdom,  for  which  he  prayed  when  a  student,  was  his  to  the  end. 
Nothing  could  quench  it.  It  burned  brighter  and  brighter  to  the 
last.  "  I  will  pray,"  he  said,  "  that  this  lovely  Iowa  may  be  given 
to  the  Saviour  for  his  inheritance."  And  that  was  his  prayer  for 
Colorado  and  the  new  West.  On  the  fly-leaf  of  Fossett's  Colorado^ 
which  he  presented  to  his  wife  on  her  birthday,  he  wrote :  "  Shall 
it  not  be  our  daily  prayer,  my  dear  wife,  that  as  I  have  given  you 
this  book,  and  written  your  name  upon  it,  so  Christ  may  give  us 
this  State,  that  we,  when  life's  work  is  done,  may  give  it  to  him 
with  his  own  name  written  in  enduring  characters  on  all  its 
mountains  and  valleys  and  precious  things?" 

In  addition  to  his  self-sacrifice  for  the  churches,  let  me  speak 
of  another  and  costlier  sacrifice.     For  nearly  ten  years,  he  was  a 


Address  of  Rev.  R.  T.  Cross.  141 

widower,  with  no  home.  When  he  estabhshed  a  home  here,  he 
enjoyed  it  intensely.  It  was  a  quiet  haven  for  him,  a  Httle  heaven 
on  earth,  when  he  returned  from  his  tedious  journeys.  Yet  for 
months  he  was  away  from  that  home,  spending  the  time  in  rough 
mining-camps,  with  few  comforts,  and  no  conveniences  for  study. 
At  one  time,  he  was  absent  nearly  four  months ;  and,  of  the  eigh- 
teen months  he  has  been  in  Colorado,  he  spent  only  about  four  at 
home.     This  costly  sacrifice  he  made  for  the  Master's  sake. 

3.  He  was  a  man  of  prayer.  He  walked  with  God  continually. 
He  prayed  daily  for  the  Home  Missionary  Society,  and  for  all  the 
churches  and  pastors  on  his  field.  As  soon  as  we  heard  him  talk 
and  pray  when  he  came  to  Colorado,  we  knew  that  he  was  the 
right  man ;  and  we  thanked  God  for  sending  him.  Although 
pastor  of  the  church  to  which  he  belonged,  I  looked  upon  him  as 
our  pastor,  and  shall  feel  his  loss  most  keenly.  His  prayers  had 
much  to  do,  I  have  no  doubt,  with  the  blessings  which  this  church 
has  received.  In  lonely  forests,  on  mountain-tops,  and  in  dark 
canons,  he  pleaded  with  God.  Often  he  would  take  his  Bible  and 
go  up  on  the  mountain-side,  and,  looking  down,  as  Christ  did  upon 
Jerusalem,,  plead  for  the  mining-camp  at  his  feet.  His  memory 
will  have  no  nobler  monument  than  his  work  in  the  Black  Hills : 
seven  churches,  five  ministers  on  the  ground,  four  church  build- 
ings, three  parsonages,  an  association,  a  Bible  society,  and  an 
academy, —  all  the  work  of  about  one  year.  But  the  key  to  that 
wonderful  work  is  found,  as  he  has  told  us,  in  that  day  when, 
detained  by  high  water  at  Jenney's  Stockade,  he  took  his  Bible, 
went  out  into  the  fields,  and  spent  the  day  in  prayer  for  the  Black 
Hills.  As  he  prayed,  the  whole  work  opened  before  him,  just  as 
it  was  afterwards  carried  out. 

Words  cannot  express  the  sympathy  we  feel  for  the  afflicted 
family  and  friends.  We  can  only  point  them  to  the  promises,  to 
the  joyful  hope  and  triumphant  faith  of  that  gospel  which  their 
loved  one  preached  so  faithfully.  And  what  a  glorious  legacy  he 
has  left  you !  If  all  the  mines  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  were 
owned  by  one  man,  and  he  should  die  and  leave  them  to  his 
family,  he  would  not  leave  so  rich,  so  precious,  so  grand  a  legacy 


142  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

as  your  loved  one  has  left  you, —  the  legacy  of  a  spotless  name,  a 
noble  Christian  life. 

Fellow-laborers  in  Christ's  vineyard,  ministers  and  laymen  of 
every  denomination,  as  we  stand  by  the  lifeless  form  of  this  faith- 
ful servant  of  God,  let  us  consecrate  ourselves  anew  to  the  work 
for  which  he  laid  down  his  life.  He  gave  his  life  for  the  church 
at  Leadville,  but  in  a  larger  sense  he  gave  it  for  the  whole  church 
of  Christ  on  earth.  He  was  a  chosen  and  trusted  leader  in  one 
division  of  the  church  militant,  but  he  fought  under  the  banner  of 
our  common  Christianity.  Let  us  follow  in  his  footsteps,  because 
they  were  the  footsteps  of  the  Master. 

Beloved  brother,  your  life  has  not  been  in  vain.  The  world  is 
better  for  your  having  lived  in  it.  Your  example  is  an  inspiration 
to  us  all.  You  have  kept  the  faith,  and  now  you  have  received 
the  crown  of  rejoicing  from  the  Lord. 

As  the  report  of  his  sudden  death  v^as  borne  over 
the  land,  many  hearts  were  stricken  as  with  a  personal 
bereavement.  The  miners  and  ranchmen  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains  joined  in  lamentation  with  the  dwellers 
upon  the  prairies. 

"  The  beauty  of  Israel  is  slain  upon  thy  high  places : 
How  are  the  mighty  fallen  in  the  midst  of  the  battle  !  " 

At  Denver,  one  said,  *'  Nothing  since  Lincoln's 
death  has  given  us  such  a  shock  and  such  sinking  of 
heart."  The  Black  Hills  were  filled  with  sadness. 
Memorial  services  were  held  at  Lead  City  and  Dead- 
wood,  also  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Iowa.  Former  scholars 
and  parishioners,  and  his  brethren  in  the  ministry, 
recorded  their  remembrances  of  his  sympathetic  and 
generous  nature,  his  fine  Christian  enthusiasm,  his 
fervid  devotion,  and  his  unselfish  life:  — 

He  was  a  soldier;  but  his  kindly,  congenial  nature  won  over 


Tribtites  to  his  Character.  143 

men  instead  of  arousing  their  hostility.  He  was  so  inconsiderate 
of  self,  so  full  of  abiding  trust  in  his  Master,  that  even  the  strong- 
lest  natures  could  not  withhold  their  respect.  What  struck  me 
on  first  acquaintance  was  his  abounding  hopefulness  and  cheerful- 
ness, never  yielding  to  despondency  or  discouragement,  but  finding 
comfort  and  strength  where  others  saw  only  clouds  and  darkness. 
His  special  and  continued  regard  for  the  church  at  Mount  Pleas- 
ant was  manifested  in  so  many  ways  as  to  demand  mention  and 
the  life-long  respect  of  all  who  find  in  it  a  spiritual  home.  Up  to 
the  removal  of  his  children,  in  1877,  he  was  a  regular  contributor 
to  the  maintenance  of  its  services,  paying  from  fifty  to  one  hun- 
dred dollars  annually  out  of  his  meagre  salary  as  missionary 
superintendent.  John  Teesdale. 

One  who  knew  him  both  in  Iowa  and  in  the  Black 
Hills  wrote: — 

It  has  been  my  pleasure  to  know  Mr.  Pickett  intimately  from 
near  the  beginning  of  his  pastorate  at  Mount  Pleasant.  I  remem- 
ber how  active  he  then  was  in  the  duties  pertaining  to  his  charge, 
how  he  worked  for  the  young  people,  visited  the  schools,  taking 
more  interest  than  any  of  the  other  pastors,  and  was  zealous  in 
every  good  work.  Afterwards,  he  entered  a  wider  field,  and  be- 
came a  missionary  through  Southern  Iowa,  carrying  to  weak  points 
words  of  courage,  and  to  suffering  hearts  consolation  and  hope. 
His  efficiency  and  zeal  as  a  Christian  apostle  induced  the  Mission- 
ary Society  to  send  him  to  Colorado  and  Western  Dakota,  where 
he  labored  among  the  rude  spirits  of  the  frontier,  the  unorganized 
elements  of  the  mining-camps.  Church  after  church  sprung  up 
as  the  result  of  his  toil,  and  hundreds  of  people  were  led  by  his 
teaching  to  a  better  life.  He  had  such  kind,  earnest,  sincere 
ways,  without  ostentation,  without  hypocrisy.  Rough  men  would 
suppress  an  oath  and  sacrilegious  jest,  when  he  was  near.  Scoff- 
ers at  religion  would  go  to  hear  him  preach,  when  they  would 
hear  no  other.  At  the  homes  and  firesides  of  the  frontier,  he  had 
a  cheering  word,  a  sunny  smile,  to  lighten  the  burdens  and  brighten 


144  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

the  pathway  of  life.  We  shall  hear  no  more  his  cordial  greeting, 
shake  no  more  his  friendly  hand,  nor  hear  his  earnest  words, 
warning  men  not  to  do  evil,  exhorting  them  to  do  good.  Yet  he 
still  Kves  in  the  memory  of  his  earnest  labor  and  bright  example. 
In  the  hearts  of  the  people,  he  built  his  monument.  All  who 
knew  him  praise  the  Great  Giver  for  the  lesson  of  his  noble  life. 

Edwin  Van  Cise. 


Mr.  Pickett  impressed  me  with  a  marvellous  religious  energy 
and  enthusiasm.  It  was  the  zeal  of  the  Lord  of  hosts.  Stanch 
in  his  faith,  he  was  no  bigot.  There  was  room  in  his  heart  and 
welcome  for  all  who  loved  the  cross,  whatever  other  divergences 
there  might  be.  A  Church  of  Christ  without  other  name  than 
that  of  the  Master  would  have  been  his  preference.  I  never  met 
a  man  more  sanguine  in  his  spirit,  less  inclined  to  count  odds  in 
questions  of  the  Kingdom  and  its  advancement.  I  shall  not  forget 
the  conqueror  spirit  with  which  at  Leadville  he  claimed  for  Jesus 
the  ground  on  which  Satan  was  intrenched. 

Charles  C.  Salter, 

Pastor  at  Denver^  1877-79. 


To  us,  no  man  in  Colorado  seemed  more  needed,  and  no  man  in 
our  ministerial  ranks  appeared  more  fitted  for  the  peculiar  and 
important  work  he  was  called  to  do.  A  prince  indeed  has  fallen 
in  Israel.  No  one  who  heard  him  and  observed  his  movements 
at  the  Association  could  doubt  his  readiness  for  the  translation. 
We  could  not  fail  to  see  that  he  had  been  with  Jesus.  The 
Master  was  seen  in  his  burning  zeal  and  earnest  prayers,  in  his 
thoughts  that  breathed  a  deeper  spiritual  life,  in  his  passion  for 
souls,  in  his  sweetness  of  spirit,  and  in  his  extreme  watchfulness 
and  jealousy  lest  anything  should  hinder  the  Kingdom.  His  life 
motto,  carried  into  practice,  seemed  to  be,  "All  and  always  for 
Christ."  Joseph  Adams, 

Cottonwood  springs^  Colorado. 


Tributes  to  his  Character.  145 

He  was  well  fitted  for  his  work.  It  was  hard ;  but  he  loved  it. 
His  whole  soul  was  in  it.  He  understood  men,  and  knew  how  to 
take  hold  of  them.  He  never  needed  a  second  introduction.  He 
was  a  man  of  noble  courage.  He  smiled  at  self-denial.  So,  too, 
he  was  a  most  thoughtful  and  considerate  man.  The  drivers  of 
the  stage-coaches  upon  which  he  travelled  knew  him.  He  could 
call  them  by  name,  and  tell  you  much  of  their  history.  These 
drivers  have  lost  a  friend.  C.  M.  Sanders, 

Pastor  at  Cheyenne^  Wyoming  Territory. 


He  brought  to  Colorado  from  his  superintendency  in  Iowa  an 
amount  of  experience,  sagacity,  enthusiasm,  energy,  and  personal 
attractions  that  specially  fitted  him  for  his  post  amid  the  pecu- 
liar conditions  and  social  elements  of  the  mountains.  A  more 
truly  spiritual,  devout,  consecrated  man  we  have  rarely  met. 
"  Always  about  his  Father's  business,"  could  be  said  as  truly  of 
few  men.  We  can  hardly  think  of  that  tireless  spirit  as  at  rest. 
With  his  whole  soul  intent  on  his  work,  at  a  time  when  it  would 
seem  he  could  ill  be  spared,  the  Master's  word  summoned  him  to 
other  activities  in  a  higher  sphere.  There  was  but  an  instant's 
notice ;  yet  who  can  doubt  the  prompt  response  of  that  ever- 
girded  soul,  "  Here  am  I  "  ?  His  memory  will  long  be  cherished 
as  his  work  will  be  felt. 

The  Home  Missionary,  1880. 


LINES   SUGGESTED    BY  THE   DEATH    OF    REV.   JOSEPH   W.  PICKETT. 

"  He  is  dead  among  the  mountains ! " 

Thus  the  ringing  message  sped ; 
And  a  thousand  hearts'  deep  fountains 

Stirred  with  grief,  and  tears  were  shed; 
And  the  East  land  and  the  West  land 

Felt  a  loss  beyond  repair, 
When  they  heard  the  dreadful  message, 

When  they  knew  the  dead  was  there. 


146  Memoirs  of  Joseph   W.  Pickett. 


Ne'er  did  Colorado's  mountains, 

Since  they  reared  their  rock-ribbed  sides 
From  the  plain  that  once][encased  them 

Into  "  continent  divides," 
Echo  back  so  sad  a  story, 

So  supremely  sad,  I  trow. 
As  this  fearful  death  in  darkness, 

'Mid  the  blinding  sleet  and  snow. 

Ah,  how  hard  it  was  to  drink  it !  — 

This,  the  dregs  of  sorrow's  cup. 
Ah,  how  long  we  could  not  think  it, — 

Could  not,  would  not,  give  him  up ! 
How  we  reasoned  that  the  missive 

Had  most  surely  been  misread ! 
But  the  lightning-voice  repeated, 

"  He  is  in  the  mountains,  dead." 

Dead  !   yes,  deadl     No  more  we'll  meet  him. 

Hear  no  more  his  ringing  voice. 
Home  and  friends  no  more  will  greet  him, 

In  his  love  no  more  rejoice. 
Overwhelmed  with  grief  and  sorrow. 

Sad  they  wait,  but  wait  in  vain  : 
He  who  left  so  late,  so  brightly, 

Ne'er  can  light  that  home  again. 

But,  amid  its  gloom  and  sadness. 

Comes  sweet  consolation's  breath, 
Bringing  whispered  words  of  gladness, 

Gilding  e'en  the  cloud  of  death  ; 
Telling  that,  with  strength  unbated, 

From  the  battle's  thickest  strife, 
Like  the  saint  of  old,  translated. 

He  was  ushered  into  life. 

Toil  and  strife  for  him  thus  ending. 

Every  duty  nobly  done. 
Leaving  memories  full  of  blessing. 

Loved  and  mourned  by  every  one, 


His  Character.  147 

In  a  moment,  in  a  twinkling, 

From  earth's  mountains,  cold  and  bare. 

Passed  he  to  the  hills  eternal, 
Everlasting  joys  to  share. 

From  the  darkness  and  the  tempest. 

And  the  chilling,  freezing  blasts. 
To  the  light  and  warmth  of  Beulah, 

Where  the  spring-time  ever  lasts, — 
Thus  he  passed  ;  but  left  his  mantle, 

E'en  a  life  so  noble,  pure. 
That  its  fragrance  will  continue 

Long  as  love  and  truth  endure. 

I  knew  him  intimately  since  1856.  Was  with  him  the  two  years 
he  taught  in  Tennessee.  The  record  of  his  life  should  be  kept 
as  an  inspiration  to  every  struggling  soul. 

J.  W.  Phillips. 
St.  Louis,  November,  1879. 

Mr.  Pickett  was  of  a  sanguine-nervous  temperament. 
With  Christian  zeal  aflame,  and  with  great  openings  for 
usefulness  before  him,  it  was  his  nature  to  overwork. 
His  ardor  and  activity  would  carry  him  beyond  bounds ; 
but,  though  exhausted  with  excessive  labors,  and  some- 
times losing  patience  with  those  who  had  less  persist- 
ence and  endurance,  and  speaking  unadvisedly,  he  was 
rarely  depressed,  and  was  without  moroseness  or  mixt- 
ure of  melancholy.  His  spiritual  energy  seemed  to 
rebound  from  every  fatigue.  He  exercised  careful  scru- 
tiny over  himself,  and  ruled  and  restrained  his  spirit 
with  strict  discipline.  The  grace  and  virtue  he  attained 
came  not  without  painstaking  and  prayer.  A  deep 
consciousness  of  sin  and  humility  of  mind  were  among 
the  foundations  of  his  religious  life. 


148  Memoirs  of  yoseph    W.  Pickett. 

Thoroughly  independent  and  self-reliant,  his  nature 
was  equally  genial  and  fraternal.  He  made  others' 
joys  and  sorrows  his  own.  No  one  prized  Christian 
fellowship  more,  or  would  go  farther  to  maintain  it. 

With  his  brethren  in  the  ministry  and  with  the 
executive  officers  of  the  American  Home  Missionary 
Society,  he  was  in  cordial  relations.  Warm  in  his 
domestic  attachments,  he  was  scrupulous  as  to  any 
encroachment  upon  his  missionary  work.  The  only 
temporal  provision  that  he  made  was  in  carrying  a 
small  life-insurance  policy.  He  gave  unusual  consid- 
eration to  the  words  of  Christ  about  leaving  all  for  his 
sake  and  the  gospel's.  But  he  would  not  allow  one 
duty  to  dispense  with  another.  In  absences  from 
home,  daily  epistles  to  his  family  bore  to  them  his  love 
and  care. 

With  frequent  opportunities  before  him  for  profitable 
business  ventures  and  for  investments  in  lands  and  in 
mines,  he  never  turned  aside  to  any  of  them,  but  kept 
himself  wholly  intent  upon  his  work.  He  followed 
closely  the  sentiment  of  the  apostle,  which  he  made 
his  daily  motto  for  years  :  — 

This  one  thing  I  do,  forgetting  those  things  which  are  behind, 
and  reaching  forth  unto  those  things  which  are  before,  I  press 
toward  the  mark  for  the  prize  of  the  high  calHng  of  God  in  Christ 
Jesus. —  Phil,  iii.,  13,  14. 

On  one  occasion,  in  the  Black  Hills,  going  over  from 
Lead  City  to  Central,  he  discovered  some  fine  speci- 
mens of  ore,  and  gathered  them  up  in  his  handkerchief. 
But  finding  himself   pondering  upon  them  and  their 


His  Life- Work.  149 

probable  value,  and  upon  making  a  mining-claim,  and 
perceiving  that  the  matter  was  taking  some  hold  of 
his  mind,  and  that  it  might  distract  his  thoughts,  he 
at  once  shook  his  handkerchief  to  the  winds,  and, 
repeating  aloud  his  motto,  knelt  upon  the  ground,  and 
renewed  his  consecration  to  his  life-work. 

The  evangelization  of  our  country,  the  establishment 
of  churches  and  institutions  of  Christian  education  in 
the  new  States,  was  the  passion  of  his  life.  In  this 
work,  he  was  ready  to  hold  fellowship  with  all  true  be- 
lievers ;  and  he  encouraged  their  union  in  one  Christian 
church,  wherever  it  was  practicable  in  new  communi- 
ties, and  in  those  of  limited  population.  In  harmony 
with  these  sentiments,  he  prosecuted  his  missionary 
labors,  and  planted  churches  in  the  interior  of  the 
continent,  and  in  vast  mountain  regions.  In  Iowa, 
he  introduced  moral  and  religious  order  in  numerous 
places,  carried  saving  health  into  thousands  of  homes, 
and  gave  powerful  support  to  churches,  schools,  and 
colleges.  To  the  Rocky  Mountains,  he  brought  greater 
treasures  than  their  mines  will  ever  yield.  Visiting 
from  house  to  house,  from  cabin  to  cabin,  and  from 
mine  to  mine,  and  preaching  with  a  prophet's  fervor, 
he  organized  Christian  society,  and  laid  foundations  for 
the  development  of  the  kingdom  of  God  in  righteous- 
ness and  peace. 

"  How  beautiful  upon  the  mountains 
Are  the  feet  of  him  that  bringeth  good  tidings, 
That  publisheth  peace, 
That  bringeth  good  tidings  of  good. 
That  publisheth  salvation, 
That  saith  unto  Zion,  Thy  God  reigneth !  " 


150  Memoirs  of  yoseph  W.  Pickett. 

He  rests  from  his  labors,  and  his  works  do  follow  him.  Others 
have  entered  into  them.  The  church  at  Leadville  recovered  from 
the  shock  occasioned  by  his  death,  and  corhpleted  and  dedicated 
their  house  of  worship  on  the  first  Sabbath  in  June,  1880.  They 
gave  it  the  name  of  the  Pickett  Memorial  Church,  and  placed  his 
portrait  upon  the  wall.  The  Spearfish  Academy  is  rising  into  use- 
fulness and  honor.  The  corner-stone  of  a  new  building  for  its  use 
was  laid  by  the  governor  of  Dakota  Territory,  July  24,  1880. 

It  remains  for  many  brave  and  valiant  men  to  carry  forward 
these  labors,  and  plant  the  gospel  over  all  these  regions,  and 
possess  the  New  West  and  the  continent  in  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus,  with  Christian  homes  and  schools  and  churches.  This 
volume  has  been  prepared  in  the  fond  hope  that  its  record  of 
earnest  devotion  to  the  work  may  awaken  a  similar  spirit  of  con- 
secration in  some  generous  bosoms,  and  also  call  forth  liberal 
offerings  of  silver  and  gold  for  the  support  of  home  missions  and 
Christian  education  in  the  United  States. 


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